The official visit of National Leader of the Turkmen People, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Paris was aimed at bringing Turkmen-French cooperation to a qualitatively new level in a wide range of areas.

Key Political Talks

The central event of the visit was the meeting of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée Palace. During the talks, the parties discussed priority issues of interstate relations and the international agenda. President Macron confirmed France's interest in expanding ties with Turkmenistan as a strategic partner, highly appreciating the peace-loving foreign policy of neutral Turkmenistan.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, in turn, emphasized that Turkmenistan builds relations with its neighbors on the basis of equality, mutual respect and good neighborliness, relying on its neutral status. The parties confirmed their readiness for close cooperation in various areas of mutual interest.

Development of trade and economic partnership

Considerable attention during the visit was paid to the intensification of business ties. The Turkmen-French Economic Forum, which brought together representatives of the business circles of the two countries, was timed to that visit. The forum discussed the prospects for mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation.

Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov presented favorable conditions for investment in Turkmenistan to French businessmen and outlined promising areas of partnership, including the oil and gas sector, satellite technologies, transport, construction, water resources, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and agriculture. Before the forum, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met with head of Bouygues Martin Bouygues, a long-standing partner of Turkmenistan.

Agreements reached: Signing of important documents

One of the key results of the visit was the signing of a package of bilateral documents designed to specify and expand cooperation in various fields. Among the signed agreements and memorandums:

Memorandums of understanding between Turkmen agencies and concerns ("Türkmenaragatnaşyk", "Türkmengaz", the Ministry of Agriculture, the State Water Management Committee) and French companies (Airbus Defence and Space SAS, IGN FI, SUEZ International, Kayrros SAS) on cooperation in the field of digital communications, space, agriculture, water management and the gas industry.

Declaration on cooperation in the field of sustainable urban development.

Roadmap for cooperation in the field of education and between higher education institutions for 2025-2026.

Agreement on cooperation in the field of archaeological research work.

Framework agreement on equipping the national telecommunications satellite TurkmenAlem52E-2.

Expanding cooperation in various areas

Other important aspects of cooperation were also touched upon during the talks. The issues of using the potential of Turkmenistan's neutrality for preventive diplomacy and peacekeeping activities, as well as the initiative to hold an international forum in Ashgabat dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust and the 30th anniversary of neutrality, were discussed.

The Turkmen side expressed support for the "EU Strategy for Central Asia" and the "Joint Roadmap for Deepening Ties", confirming its readiness to cooperate within the framework of the European initiative "Global Gate". The prospects for developing the Trans-Caspian transport corridor using the potential of the Turkmenbashi port were noted. Issues of water use in Central Asia were touched upon, where Turkmenistan adheres to the principles of international law and takes into account the interests of all countries in the region.

The need to intensify cooperation in such areas as energy (including reducing methane emissions), transport, water management, ICT, banking and the private sector was also emphasized. It was proposed to hold regular meetings of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-French Commission on Economic Cooperation and the Working Group on Energy Issues this year.

Cultural, educational and scientific ties

Considerable attention was paid to humanitarian cooperation. The development of the study of the French language in Turkmenistan, the fruitful activities of the French Institute in Ashgabat and the great interest in French culture, symbolized by the monument to Honore de Balzac erected in the capital, were noted.

The productive nature of more than 30 years of cooperation in the field of archeology was emphasized, including the successful work of the Turkmen-French archaeological group (MAFTUR) and the recent opening of an exhibition of artifacts found at the Ulug-Depe monument. In this context, it was proposed to organize an exhibition of Bronze Age artifacts from Turkmenistan in Paris in 2027-2028, similar to exhibitions held and planned in other countries.

Speleology was designated as a new area of ​​cooperation, and the experience of French specialists in exploring the caves of the Koytendag mountain range was noted.

Results of the visit

The official visit of National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to the French Republic was successful. It opened a new page in interstate relations, confirming the mutual desire of the parties to expand fruitful cooperation in the political, trade and economic, cultural and humanitarian, scientific and educational spheres in the interests of sustainable development and strengthening peace.

ORIENT