ASHGABAT, August 11. /TASS/. Iran has proposed to Turkmenistan to develop transport and transit cooperation by combining the capabilities of the Caspian Sea ports, said Iran's ambassador to Turkmenistan Ali Mojtaba Rouzbehani.

"The development of the maritime economy and transport and transit cooperation may become one of the most important areas of future relations between Iran and Turkmenistan. The International Port of Turkmenbashi is one of the most important transport infrastructures in the region and has significant potential for integration into the Eurasian transport and communication network. Connecting the capabilities of this port with Iranian ports on the Caspian Sea coast, including the ports of Bandar-e Anzali, Amirabad and Caspian, can help increase trade exchange, develop multimodal transportation and strengthen the role of the Caspian Sea in regional transport corridors," the diplomat said in a material dedicated to the International Day of the Caspian Sea, which was distributed by the Iranian embassy in Ashgabat.

According to Rouzbehani, one of the most important areas of cooperation is also the falling water level of the Caspian Sea and the need for close cooperation between all Caspian littoral states, in particular Iran and Turkmenistan.

"The importance of preserving this water space, especially given the need to ensure its safety for future generations, further underlines the need for the active participation and practical actions of the Caspian littoral states in protecting the Caspian Sea," he said.

According to the ambassador, Iran and Turkmenistan can play a more active role in monitoring the ecological state of the sea, exchanging experience and professional knowledge, as well as in implementing joint projects and research programs aimed at preserving this valuable ecosystem.

He also believes that the Caspian Sea can be considered as part of the common civilizational heritage of the region, a heritage whose preservation and sustainable development require cooperation of all Caspian littoral states.

"Along with economic and environmental diplomacy, the civilizational diplomacy of the Caspian Sea can be considered as an additional approach to strengthening ties between the peoples of the region. Civilizational diplomacy of the Caspian Sea involves using the historical, cultural and human potential of the region to deepen mutual understanding and strengthen trust between coastal societies," the ambassador concluded.

The International Caspian Sea Day is celebrated annually on August 12.