Sushma Swaraj holds discussion with Turkmenistan President in Ashgabat

Visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who met Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov here on Wednesday, said that she had a very productive meeting with the latter and added that this interaction would help build deeper and stronger ties between New Delhi and Ashgabat.

"We had a very productive meeting with the honourable President. We talked about bilateral relations. All important issues we talked about. We talked about defence co-operation, fertilizer plant, cultural relations and both of us were saying that Turkmenistan and India share cultural and historical linkages," she said.

"I think that with this meeting the relationships will be deeper and stronger," she added.

India enjoys close, friendly and historical ties with Turkmenistan.

India and Turkmenistan have implemented with effect from April 1, 2011, an Agreement on visa free entry for Diplomatic Passport holders.

The third meeting of the India-Turkmenistan Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Consular and Cultural cooperation was held in Ashgabat in February 2010.

The fourth Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation was held in New Delhi on January 22, 2013. The fifth Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation is expected to be held in Ashgabat in 2015.