A reception marking the Independence Day of Turkmenistan was held at the Cultural Center at the General Directorate for Servicing the Diplomatic Corps under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia on 8 October 2019. 

The opening address at the gala reception was offered by Mr. Batyr Niyazliev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the Russian Federation. 

In his speech, Mr. Ambassador mentioned the stable good neighborly relations of the Turkmen and Russian peoples and successful joint efforts made by Russia and Turkmenistan in the field of education and research. The years of bilateral cooperation have been marked by the intergovernmental dialogue conducted at the senior official level. The cooperation between the two countries has always been characterized by mutual support and trust. 

Maxim Kotelnikov, Deputy Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, was the Financial University representative at the event. Acting on behalf of Mikhail Eskindarov, Rector of the Financial University, he conveyed heartfelt greetings on the occasion of the holiday to His Excellency.  

Mr. Ambassador expressed gratitude and said he intended to pay a friendly visit to the Financial University and meet the students who came from Turkmenistan. 

M.V. Kotelnikov met the representatives of the Embassy of Turkmenistan and the Turkmen diasporas in the Russian regions and discussed the ways of strengthening and developing partner relations between the two countries and issues related to training experts in economics and finance. 

Deputies of the Federation Council and the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, overseas diplomats accredited in Moscow, representatives of the two countries' business communities, scholars and cultural sector representatives attended the event and greeted the hosts of the gala evening on the occasion of the important holiday.