DUSHANBE, February 15, Asia-Plus - On February 14, President Emomali Rahmonov held talks with new Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov.

“In the course of the talks Rahmonov and Berdymukhammedov pointed to the necessity of laying legal foundation of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Turkmenistan,” Abdufattoh Sharipov, a spokesman for the Tajik president said. 

The two underlined the importance of establishing long-term cooperation in various fields.  During the meeting it was noted that efficient use of energy and other natural resources could bring bilateral cooperation between the two countries to qualitative new level. 

According to the spokesman, the sides also exchanged views on a state and prospects of trade between Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.  Both sides vowed to boost bilateral trade and give new impulse to bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation.  Rahmonov invited his Turkmen counterpart to pay an official visit to Tajikistan.  

As it had been reported earlier, according to Turkmenistan’s central electoral commission, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov won an overwhelming 89 percent of the vote in February 11 poll.  Six candidates ran for the presidency, but acting president Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov was the favorite to win the poll.