ASHGABAT: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday addressed an international forum held here in the Turkmen capital, where he stressed an enhanced focus on the promotion of regional connectivity as well as cultural and economic collaboration in the region.
The president, addressing the forum on “Interrelation of Times and Civilizations- Basis for Peace and Development” said that Pakistan and Turkmenistan shared a deep-rooted bond of brotherhood which was built on mutual respect and commonalities of faith and a shared vision for a better and peaceful future.
The event, held to mark the 300th birth anniversary of Magtymguly Faragi, a great Turkmen thinker, poet and philosopher, was also attended by several regional leaders. President Zardari, who arrived here on Thursday on a two-day visit, called Magtymguly Faragi a “towering figure” of Turkmen literature and a “beacon of spiritual enlightenment.” The great Turkmen poet and Pakistan’s national poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal shared several commonalities in their poetry and thoughts on Sufism and nationalism, he added.
He lauded the Turkmen government and people for organizing the event to promote understanding of peace and dialogue among different cultures which also provided him an opportunity to interact with leaders of regional countries to help strengthen mutual friendship.
President Zardari said that his participation in the Forum reflected his country’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. He said Magtymguly Faragi was not only a poet but also an aspiration and symbol of the Turkmen people’s love for their homeland. “His works continue to resonate with us today providing guidance, inspiration and sense of unity,” he said. Magtymguly Faragi was born in the times of great political and social unrest when the the Turkmen tribe was scattered and divided, yet despite this challenge, he dedicated his life to the dream of seeing Turkmen people united, the president added.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Friday emphasised further strengthening of bilateral relationship between the two countries.
The development came during an informal meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of two-day international forum on “Interrelation of Times and Civilisations- Basis for Peace and Development” here in the Turkmen capital.
The moot was held to commemorate the 300th birth anniversary of Magtymguly Faragi, a great Turkmen thinker, poet and philosopher. Both leaders expressed good wishes for each other, according to a statement issued by the President House.
Earlier, the president, who arrived here on Thursday for a two-day visit, also addressed the forum which was also attended by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Tajik President Emomali Rehmon, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and others.
–Agencies
