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Russian, Turkmen presidents to discuss energy in Moscow

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MOSCOW, March 23 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will discuss energy cooperation with his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Bedrymukhammedov at talks in Moscow on Wednesday, a Kremlin source said on Monday.

Bedrymukhammedov is due to arrive in the Russian capital on Tuesday on a two-day visit.

The two leaders are expected to address "issues of cooperation in the fuel and energy complex, including the implementation of an intergovernmental agreement on the construction of the trans-Caspian pipeline and the issue of boosting gas transit facilities in Central Asia," the source said.

In late 2007, Turkmenistan, Russia and Kazakhstan signed a deal to build a natural gas pipeline along the Caspian coast to transit gas from Asian states via Russia. The project is seen as a rival to the Western-backed Nabucco trans-Caspian pipeline that bypasses Russia.

The construction of the 1700-km (1056-mile) pipeline is scheduled to begin later this year.

"The heads of states will [also] discuss the perspectives of boosting cooperation in the electric power industry, agriculture, transport and telecommunications," the source said.

Russia is Turkmenistan's largest foreign trade partner, accounting for 39.2% of the country's foreign trade. Trade between the two countries doubled in 2008 to reach $7 billion.

The two leaders will also sign a joint statement and a number of bilateral documents during the meeting, the source said.

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