ASHGABAT (Turkmenistan): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor today arrived in the capital city of Turkmenistan for an official two-day visit to this Central Asian country.
The visit, at the invitation of its President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, is Najib's second visit to Turkmenistan after his first state visit here in July 2011.
Najib and Rosmah were received by Turkmenistan chief of state protocol Muhamed-Durdyew Serdar and vice-premier Oil and Gas who is also Minister in Attendance Khodjqmuhammedow Buymurad, upon their arrival at Ashgabat Airport about 7pm (10pm Malaysian time)
They were offered bread and salt by two children, a local tradition in welcoming respected guests.
Also present were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, Malaysian ambassador to Turkmenistan Norman Muhamad and wife Kamsiah Kamaruddin.
From the airport, the Prime Minister's delegation proceeded to Yyldyz Hotel, where they were welcomed by Malaysians working in Turkmenistan and government officials, led by Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Senator Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar,
Najib has a packed one-day schedule tomorrow which starts with an official welcoming ceremony by the President at the Presidential Palace about 9am.
He and Gurbanguly would have a four-eyed meeting followed by delegation meeting by both sides.
Both leaders would proceed to witness the signing of agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) which set to strengthen Malaysian-Turkmenistan bilateral ties and collaboration in cultural, education, education and trades.
The key MoU would be on a long term cooperation between Petronas and Turkmen Gas for the exploration of the country's natural gas reserve which is ranked as the fourth biggest in the world.
Later at 1pm, Najib and Rosmah are scheduled to join about 60 Malaysians based in Turkmenistan for lunch at Yyldz Hotel before proceeding to lay a wreath at the Monument of Constitution followed by a tree planting with the President at about 4pm.
Najib would conclude his visit to Turkmenistan by attending a dinner hosted by Gurbanguly at the Presidential Palace before leaving for Malaysia.
