CA-NEWS (TM) - "The initiative of the Turkmen side on construction of the transcontinental TAPI gas pipeline is timely and relevant, and it was warmly welcomed by the people and the leadership of Pakistan," President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari said during a telephone conversation with President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.

As the Turkmenistan.ru correspondent reports from Ashgabat quoting the press service of the head of state, during the conversation Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov proposed to hold a meeting of relevant ministers in September, and then raise the issue of construction of the gas pipeline at a high level meeting of heads of four states in December this year in Ashgabat to make a relevant decision on this issue.

The President of Pakistan said that he would surely send a minister responsible for realization of the pipeline project to attend the meeting in Ashgabat in September, and that he would be "happy to attend the high-level meeting of heads of states - TAPI project participants in December," the press-service said.

Asif Ali Zardari also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the President and people of Turkmenistan for providing humanitarian assistance in connection with the natural disaster in Pakistan.