India’s Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Bandaru Wilsonbabu, spoke of the steady development of Turkmen-Indian relations and highlighted their historical foundations. According to him, cooperation between the two countries is based on centuries-old cultural and trade ties, reports the publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’.

The diplomat noted that, despite having gained independence relatively recently, India and Turkmenistan have deep historical roots of cooperation. Contacts between the peoples, he said, existed as far back as several millennia ago.

Particular attention was paid to humanitarian cooperation. Interest in Indian culture, including cinema, music, yoga and Ayurveda, is growing in Turkmenistan. A Centre for Yoga and Traditional Medicine operates in Ashgabat, a Hindi Corner has been opened at the D. Azadi Turkmen National Institute of World Languages, and an Ayurveda clinic is in operation at the Turkmen State Medical University named after M. Garryev.

Plans include inviting specialists from India to teach Hindi and traditional medicine. This will help to expand academic cooperation.

The two sides are developing cooperation in the field of education. Every year, Turkmen students enrol in Indian universities. Consideration is being given to expanding study programmes to meet the needs of the economy, including the oil and gas sector, the chemical industry, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, digital technologies and education.

The Ambassador expressed his gratitude to the leadership of Turkmenistan for supporting bilateral cooperation and confirmed India’s readiness to further develop it.