Ashgabat/New Delhi, April 2 : President Ram Nath Kovind and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on Saturday discussed connectivity projects, including the possibility of Ashgabat joining the International North South Transport Corridor, as well as India’s concerns regarding the TAPI pipeline project. During talks held in the Turkmen capital, the two sides stressed on their age-old civilizational and cultural links, the support provided to each other during Covid and on the need to expand their trade and economic cooperation. A joint statement issued on the occasion said that the Turkmen side highlighted the benefits of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project for the economic development of the region and agreed to examine India’s proposals of ensuring integrity, safety and security of the project by integrating “the Business Principles” in various Agreements pertaining to TAPI gas pipeline project. The two Presidents emphasized on the importance of International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), Ashgabat Agreement on the Establishment of an International Transport and Transit Corridor and other regional transport corridors in this context. They acknowledged the significance of Turkmenistan as a link to other Central Asian countries and the Caspian region. President of Turkmenistan conveyed his readiness to join the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and in that context, proposed that the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway line could be a linked corridor of the INSTC to streamline movement of goods between Turkmenistan and India and beyond. President of India mentioned about India’s proposal to include Chabahar port developed by India in the INSTC framework. The Turkmen side highlighted the potential of the Turkmenbashi International Seaport for carrying out the transportation between the two countries. The Indian side looked forward to early nomination from Turkmen side for the Joint Working Group on Chabahar, announced during the India-Central Asia Summit in January 2022. The President of Turkmenistan highlighted his initiative to create, under the auspices of the UN, a Special Program for the Development of Inter-regional Transport Comm cation, the statement said. In his address, President Kovind stressed that this is the first ever visit by a President of India to Turkmenistan, and also one of the first visits hosted by the new and young leader of Turkmenistan. He also noted the other milestone – that this year marks the 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Turkmenistan. He said the two leaders held a detailed discussion on the state and prospects of bilateral relations and also exchanged views on various regional and international issues of importance. “We agreed to do more to expand bilateral trade which has remained modest. Our business comm ties must deepen their engagement, understand each other’s regulations and identify new areas of trade and investment.” President Kovind voiced confidence that the MoU between the Financial Intelligence t of India and Financial Monitoring Service of Turkmenistan signed today would strengthen the framework of economic cooperation between the two countries. On the TAPI pipeline, he suggested that issues related to security of the pipeline and key business principles may be addressed in Technical and Expert level meetings. Both sides have also identified new areas of cooperation such as Disaster Management on which they signed an MoU. He conveyed India’s readiness to partner with Turkmenistan in its drive towards digitalisation. “Turkmenistan is an important partner for India in the India – Central Asia Summit framework, the first of which India hosted virtually in January this year. We agreed to further enhance cooperation under the framework flowing from the India-Central Asia Summit,” he added. He welcomed Turkmenistan’s readiness to send a youth delegation to India within the ambit of India-Central Asia cultural cooperation. On Afghanistan, he said: “As immediate neighbours of Afghanistan, our countries are naturally concerned about the developments within that country and their external repercussions.” At the dinner speech, the President said the India-Turkmenistan “historical and cultural ties go back to several millennia. The relics of “Soma” drink found in Gonur Depe, Buddhist manuscripts and coins excavated from Merv and the Turkman Gate in Delhi built in memory of the Sufi saint Shah Turkmen Bayabani are abiding examples of our age old linkages. I was reminded of these ties today when I interacted with some Turkmeni nationals who were very fluent in Hindi language.” He noted that it is a matter of pride that Turkmen people greatly admire Indian films, dance, music, Yoga and, Ayurveda. He thanked the Government of Turkmenistan for the support provided to the Yoga and Traditional Medicine Center in Ashgabat, which is the first of its kind in Central Asia. India will be happy to assist in opening of similar Centres in other cities of Turkmenistan. During the visit the following MoUs and Agreements were signed in the presence of the two Presidents: i) Memorandum of Understanding between Financial Monitoring Service at the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan and Financial Intelligence t of India; ii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of India on Cooperation in the field of Disaster Management; iii) Programme of Cooperation between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of India in the fields of Culture and Arts for the period 2022-2025; iv) Memorandum of Understanding between Ministry of Sports and Youth Policy of Turkmenistan and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of Government of Republic of India on Cooperation in Youth Matters. RN