ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, Dec. 13
By Huseyn Hasanov– Trend:
Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan are in talks on the opening of Ashgabat-Bishkek flights, a representative of the Kyrgyz Ministry of Transport and Roads Arzymat Matmuratov said at a press conference, Trend reports referring to the Kyrgyz Kabar news agency.
“During the meeting, the issue of opening flights between Bishkek and Ashgabat and then through Kyrgyzstan to Southeast Asia and other countries was discussed,” Matmuratov said.
Business ties between the two countries are strengthening. Kyrgyzstan is interested in importing Turkmen liquefied natural gas and is negotiating with the Turkmen State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange to search for opportunities to increase trade turnover.
This was mentioned by Kyrgyz representatives at a meeting of the Turkmen-Kyrgyz intergovernmental commission in Ashgabat.
It is reported that Turkmenistan is ready to consider the possibility of joint mining and processing of minerals in Kyrgyzstan. The parties also discuss the prospects of partnership in industry and transport.
Turkmenistan holds one of the key positions in the region in terms of supply of natural gas, and China is a major importer of gas.
Bishkek may also be involved in a major project to deliver Central Asian gas to China, primarily from Turkmenistan.
The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has been purchasing natural fuel in this region since 2009, after the launch of the first two branches of the Central Asia-China (A and B) gas pipeline from Turkmenistan through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
Recently, the third branch (C) has been launched, which also runs along this route. The development of a project is underway to build an additional fourth branch (D), along new transit route through Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.