On 24 July, during a telephone conversation with the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, put forward initiatives to expand bilateral cooperation. This was reported by the news agency TDH.

The parties discussed the prospects for implementing new joint projects based on their accumulated experience of cooperation, including facilities promoting friendship and economic cooperation — the ‘Ashgabat’ and ‘Tashkent’ parks, bridges across the Amu Darya and a border trade centre.

One of the proposals was the creation of an Industrial and Technological Corridor between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The project aims to develop high-tech manufacturing and the production of export-oriented goods.

An initiative was also put forward to establish a transport and logistics centre on the Turkmen-Uzbek border, which would form part of the ‘East–West’ route and help to strengthen ties between Asia and Europe.

To coordinate joint initiatives, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted the advisability of establishing a ‘Turkmenistan–Uzbekistan’ High Council. It is anticipated that this new mechanism will enable the systematisation of cooperation and the implementation of long-term projects.