Economy, politics, humanitarian cooperation, and, of course, world and regional problems. Today, Putin discussed all that in Sochi with the President of Turkmenistan. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow arrived in Russia just several days after the historical Caspian Summit where the Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea was signed. Though, Putin's agenda included not only the Russia-Turkmenistan relations but also Russia-China negotiations.
Our correspondent Alexander Balitsky reports from Sochi.
Rare footage, filmed by the President's personal cameraman, that's usually reserved for private use. The two leaders of Russia and Turkmenistan together on the balcony of Putin's residence in Sochi Bocharov Ruchey. On the table – Astrakhan watermelons, at the table – informal conversation. The meeting began on the porch informally as well.
Putin met Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow just three days ago when with the rest of the Caspian Five leaders he signed the Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea. The historical document, which has already been named as The Caspian Constitution, opens opportunities for the new bilateral projects as well.
Vladimir Putin: "We have seen one another just recently within the framework of the Caspian Five, where we signed a very important document on the Caspian situation settlement. Well, just as we arranged, we will meet today in Sochi; we will surely discuss our bilateral relations; and just as you suggested, we will do it informally, the two of us will just sit down and discuss the questions which are of interest for the bilateral relations".
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow: "Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation are strategic partners. We have always built our bilateral relations on the basis of mutual respect. So, in fact, we do a lot for the realization of such issues as our relations".
After the protocol exchange of greetings, followed the closed-door negotiations, even the ministers left. But it's clear that in the spotlight are the perspectives which appear after the signing of the Caspian Convention.
The Western press has been writing for days both about the prohibition for the non-Caspian countries to deploy their troops there and about the huge fossil fuels deposits which will be developed here.
"This region is very rich. The Caspian natural gas and oil deposits are estimated at 240 trillion cubic feet and 20 billion barrels respectively".
The Turkmenian leader has already been to Sochi. Right here, last year, he presented Putin with a Central Asian Shepherd puppy named Verniy. The puppy had, of course, grown up by now but when will the turnover grow as well? The development of the Caspian water-front infrastructure should help. Just on Sunday, Putin talked about building a huge modern harbor in the city of Kaspiysk in Dagestan. A big transport hub has been recently opened in Turkmenbashi too.
But the contacts are not limited only to the economy. This is Funtovo, a village near Astrakhan, where the most of the population are ethnic Turkmen. In two weeks, the first school-year will start in the first and, for now, the only Turkmenian school in Russia. The same attitude towards the Russian language is in Turkmenistan.
About the complex situation in the world and the global security, also in Sochi, Putin talked to the Chinese delegation. In the Politburo of the Communist Party of China, Yang Jiechi is in charge of the external affairs and, unofficially, in charge of the relations with the USA which have been quite tense recently, unlike the relations between Beijing and Moscow. Putin sent his regards to the Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Vladimir Putin: "I ask to send my best regards to him, We look forward to his visit in September in Vladivostok, where then we will take part in the Vladivostok Economic Forum together".
Yang Jiechi, Director, China's FA Office: "All of our meetings are very important. They give a new impulse in the development of the bilateral relations".
With the background of the Trade War between China and the USA, this meeting between Russia and China is a cause to compare the notes.
Alexander Balitsky, Illya Nalyotov, Stanislav Ponomarenko, and Alexandra Terpugova, Vesti, Sochi
