Turkmenistan keen to study Malaysia's economic model - Najib

The Turkmenistan Government is keen to study Malaysia's economic model, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said this was expressed by Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at a bilateral meeting with Najib at the Perdana Putra building here today.

"We welcome Turkmenistan to send a technical team for more indepth study of our experience in Malaysia," he said at a joint press conference with Berdimuhamedov here after their talks.

Berdimuhamedov arrived on Monday for a two-day official visit to Malaysia. This is his second visit to Malaysia, his first being in 2011.

The New Economic Model is an economic plan in Malaysia, unveiled in 2010 by Najib and intended to more than double the per capita income in the country by 2020.

Besides exchanging views on international issues, Najib said both leaders also agreed the two countries and two regions of Central Asia and ASEAN should collaborate even closer, in the light of the uncertain global economic situation.

"(This is) so that we can overcome the strong economic headwinds," he said, adding Malaysia and Turkmenistan had agreed to enhance cooperation in cultural exchange and sports development fields.

The prime minister also confirmed Malaysia's participation in the forthcoming 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games which will be held in Turkmenistan next year.

"I am confident the visit of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the agreements and memorandi of understanding (MoUs) we have signed during his visit will add a lot of impetus to our bilateral ties.

"I look forward to work very closely with my brother and the government, now and the future, and I am confident our existing brotherly ties will enhance with his visit," Najib said.

Meanwhile, Berdimuhamedov said Turkmenistan and Malaysia shared mutual desire to promote peace and stability in Central Asia and Asia Pacific region.

"Turkmenistan and Malaysia are staunch supporters of fair and international relations in the development of global politics as reflected in the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Non-Aligned Movement," he said.

Berdimuhamedov said both leaders also agreed on further consolidation of efforts to counter new challenges and threats to international security, including the fight against terrorism, extremism, transnational crimes and trafficking.

He also extended an invitation to the Malaysian delegation to participate in the Global Sustainable Transport Conference which will be hosted by the United Nations in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on Nov 26 and 27.

Earlier, both leaders witnessed the signing ceremony of a protocol agreement and an MoU.

The protocol amendment agreement on economic, scientific and technical cooperation between the Malaysian Government and Turkmenistan was signed by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and his Turkmenistan counterpart, Rashid Meredow.

An MoU on sports cooperation was signed between Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Turkmenistan's Chairman of State Committee for Sport, Toyly Komekov. -- BERNAMA