KABUL - Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah met with Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow on Thursday afternoon in Kabul.

Abdullah called Berdimuhamedow's trip a vital step towards strengthening and expanding the relations between the two countries.

"Turkmenistan is an old friend of Afghanistan and we have historic and cultural ties between us," Abdullah said.

In addition, Abdullah welcomed Berdimuhamedow's promise to facilitate the peace process between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

The meeting came after Berdimuhamedow - on one of his rare state visits - arrived in Kabul on Thursday morning. He met with President Ashraf Ghani earlier where he signed a number of agreements of mutual interests.

At least five accords were inked at an event at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, which was attended by high-raking government officials from both countries.

Addressing a joint press conference after the signing ceremony, Ghani said that he and Berdimuhamedow also discussed numerous issues relating to trade, transit and economic development as well as security issues.

Ghani was clear in his speech that Afghanistan considers Turkmenistan a "brotherly" neighbor. (Tolonews)