Ashgabat/New Delhi,
President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday arrived on a four-day state visit to Turkmenistan, in the first ever Presidential visit from India to the Central Asian country. He was received at the Ashgabat airport by Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in a special gesture and accorded a ceremonial welcome and a Guard of Honour.
During the visit, President Kovind will hold talks with new President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov on various issues of bilateral and regional cooperation, including implementation of the outcomes of the India-Central Asia Summit held in January 2022. Some agreements / MoUs are also expected to be signed during the visit.
The President's entourage includes Minister of State for fisheries, Animal husbandry, and information and broadcasting, L Murugan and Member of Parliament, Dilip Ghosh. The two countries are marking marking three decades of diplomatic relations. The visit will see a joint statement and there will be MOUs on disaster management, financial intelligence, program of cooperation and culture and Youth Affairs; a joint postal stamp to commemorate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
The visit of President Kovind will reaffirm the importance that India attaches to Turkmenistan not only bilaterally but also in terms of our extended neighbourhood concept and role in the India-Central Asia partnership. The President goes to the Netherlands from April 4-7 at the invitation of King Willem – Alexander and Queen Maxima. During the visit to the Netherlands, the President will hold discussions with His Royal Majesties and Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
The upcoming visit is significant as during 2022, India and the Netherlands are celebrating 75 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations. In 2021, during the Virtual Summit held between the Prime Ministers of the two countries, a Strategic Partnership on Water was launched to enhance the level of engagement between the two sides in this important sector.
Cooperation in sectors such as agriculture, health, urban development, science and technology are other important pillars of the bilateral relationship. The Netherlands is also an important economic and commercial partner of India with the country being India's fourth largest FDI source. It also hosts the largest Indian diaspora in continental Europe.