Oriented on making people closer

Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met today, July 16, with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov thanked Ilham Aliyev for the invitation to visit Azerbaijan, the hospitality and cordiality shown, and conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov. This was reported on the website of the President of Azerbaijan.

The current visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan is targeted to further strengthening and developing bilateral relations, consolidating the achieved milestones, and providing incentives for the implementation of new projects and directions, the National Leader of the Turkmen people said.

In general, characterizing the current level of Turkmen-Azerbaijani interstate relations, the head of the Khalk Maslakhaty defined them in three words: brotherhood, good-neighborliness, cooperation.

We rely on a solid historical foundation, the community and kinship of the two peoples, a mutual understanding of the need for each other, a clear vision of the strategic prospects for partnership, and a willingness to use the combined political, economic, and resource potential for the benefit of our peoples and states, for their well-being and prosperity, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted.

During the meeting, it was noted that Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan today have a solid and broad agenda for cooperation - in foreign policy, economics, culture, and humanitarian spheres. Thanks to the efforts of both sides, our interaction is distinguished by purposefulness and specificity, it is stable and sustainable, and shows good dynamics. The key, decisive factor in this is the highest level of mutual understanding and trust achieved between the leaders of our countries. This allows us to make the right and timely decisions on all issues of bilateral cooperation, and ensure the implementation of the agreements reached.

In the sphere of foreign policy, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan have principled and firm positions based on adherence to the UN Charter and recognized international legal norms. Our countries make an important contribution to maintaining stability and security in the world and on the continent, in regional issues, in the Caspian Sea zone, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized.

Our countries successfully and effectively cooperate in major international organizations, primarily in the UN, in a number of regional structures. In this regard, the Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan congratulated Azerbaijan on the recent successful holding of the 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization in the city of Khankendi.

Trade and economic partnership is successfully developing, its qualitative and quantitative indicators are growing. Traditional ties in culture, science, education, on a personal, human level are expanding. The importance and role of inter-parliamentary cooperation and public diplomacy as the most important elements of interstate relations is growing.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed confidence that this visit will become an important factor in further rapprochement between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, developing coordinated approaches in the context of implementing a long-term cooperation strategy.

Comments in the Azerbaijani media on the visit of the head of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan note key areas - from energy and logistics to political coordination and humanitarian ties. One of the most striking examples of the success of diplomatic efforts is the agreement on the Dostlug field, which opens the way to joint energy work in the Caspian.

Since 2021, after signing a memorandum of understanding, Baku and Ashgabat have been consistently developing cooperation in the exploration and development of this promising oil and gas area. In November 2023, the parties discussed SOCAR's participation in the implementation of projects at other fields in Turkmenistan.

The economic sphere is also experiencing stable development. Thus, in 2024, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan amounted to $383.7 million. In the first five months of 2025, this figure reached $118.5 million, with imports from Turkmenistan accounting for $99.2 million, while exports from Azerbaijan amounted to $19.2 million.

Energy is the main driver of bilateral cooperation. In addition to the development of Dostlug, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan are participating in a gas swap scheme via Iran. Since the beginning of 2025, Baku has purchased 155.3 million cubic meters of gas from Ashgabat for $23.3 million.

SOCAR is actively expanding its presence - in November 2023, the company opened a representative office in Ashgabat, and in October held two meetings with the management of Turkmengaz. Energy memorandums, technology exchange and possible joint projects are on the agenda. The energy agenda also includes the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline as the key to the entry of Turkmen gas into the European market.

In the transport and logistics sector, the Caspian Sea is acquiring new significance. A telling fact: the volume of container traffic on the Baku-Turkmenbashi route has recently increased by 2.9 times and reached 2,362 TEU. One of the key areas remains the Lazurite Corridor project, connecting Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. The signed memorandum between ADY Container and the logistics center of Turkmenistan confirms that cooperation in the field of transportation will only gain momentum. Both countries are also participating in the Ashgabat Agreement, which opens access to the Persian Gulf.

The humanitarian dimension of relations is also developing. From January to May 2025 alone, more than 12 thousand citizens of Turkmenistan visited Azerbaijan - more than half of them arrived for tourism purposes. This is not only an indicator of openness, but also a reflection of the rapprochement of peoples united by cultural, linguistic and historical ties, Azerbaijani analysts note.

ORIENT

Photo: president.az