Turkmenistan urges expansion of cooperation

Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow on Tuesday said expanding cooperation with Iran is the first priority of his country's foreign policy in Central Asia. He made the remarks in a message to the opening ceremony of Iran's sixth exclusive trade fair in Ashkhabad. Berdimuhamedow said the two brotherly and friendly countries of Iran and Turkmenistan have begun enhancing their trade and economic relations since Turkemenistan's independence. He called for further broadening of mutual economic and trade cooperation and said holding of such trade fairs by Iran is a symbol of friendly relations between the two brotherly countries. Turkmen Statistics Organization released an official report Tuesday on the country’s economic and social development in which Iran was referred to as Turkmenistan's first trade partner followed by Russia, China and Turkey.