ASHKHABAT, 28 December - IP "TURKMENinform". Due to the putting into operation the first stage of inter-state gas-main pipeline Dovletabat-Serakhs(Saraghs)-Hangeran (Turkmenistan-Iran) to take place next week in Mary velayat of Turkmenistan President of Islamic Republic Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will arrive in Turkmenistan on an invitation of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov. The Turkmenistan-Iran gas transporting system is meant to promote active political and economic cooperation and friendly relations between the two countries.

The first stage of Turkmenistan-Iran gas pipeline is 35 kilometres of 1020 mm-diameter pipes to supply from 1.8 to 2.5 billions cubic metres of Turkmen natural gas to the neighbouring country per year. Opening of the second (120 kilometres long) stage of the main gas transporting system planned on second half 2010 will allow Turkmenistan to increase annual volumes of blue fuel export to Iran up to 6 billions cubic metres.

The two state leaders will also discuss the course of realization of joint projects and agreements on expanding bilateral strategic cooperation in various fields of which the major bulk falls on power engineering and transport. One of the most important topics of talks is planned to be construction of the railway main line Iran-Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan to become the most efficient transport road from Europe to the Persian Gulf.

IP "TURKMENinform"