In his welcoming address upon the arrival of Russia's first deputy prime minister, the Turkmen president highlighted the importance of the intergovernmental commission for promoting and strengthening Russian-Turkmen relations. He said that a positive trend had developed in bilateral trade, economic, cultural and other relations in the past few years.

Berdimuhamedov also asked Zubkov to convey his best regards to the Russian President and the Prime Minister.

Viktor Zubkov responded that Russia highly values its friendly relations with Turkmenistan and intends to do its best to further strengthen mutually beneficial economic and cultural cooperation and to develop new ties with it.

"The Russian Federation has always been a reliable friend of your country," the first deputy prime minister said.

Zubkov also conveyed Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's regards.

"You met with President Dmitry Medvedev on October 21-22 and discussed a wide range of issues related to bilateral cooperation with him. Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov and I will discuss all aspects of our cooperation at today's meeting of the intergovernmental commission and will also consider the best ways to bolster our partnership," Viktor Zubkov said.

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"We have held a business-like discussion in an atmosphere of goodwill," Zubkov told journalists. "We discussed the details of the agenda for the upcoming meeting of the intergovernmental commission. The numerous issues on its agenda cover the entire range of our interaction in the economic and cultural spheres. We spoke about the need to encourage bilateral tourism and discussed the possibility of supplying agricultural machinery to Turkmenistan with the assistance of Russian leasing company Rosagroleasing. We also discussed the practical aspects of organising a Russian-Turkmen research and innovation forum, to be held in Ashgabat next year at the initiative of the Turkmen President. The Russian President has supported the idea of this forum," Zubkov said.