Oriented on making people closer

Ashgabat, October 8 | ORIENT. Today, the second meeting of the Speakers of Parliament of the Group of Friends of Neutrality member states took place via videoconference. The meeting, titled "Interparliamentary Dialogue: An Important Tool for Ensuring Peace and Trust Throughout the World," was held. Organized by the Mejlis of Turkmenistan and chaired by Speaker Dunyagozel Gulmanova, the event brought together a wide range of legislators and representatives of international organizations.

China's Global Call and Qatar's Mediation

In his video address, China's top legislator, Zhao Leji, noted that the Group of Friends of Neutrality has become "a good platform for strengthening mutual understanding and trust." He emphasized that the UN and multilateralism face challenges in times of instability and called on all parties to firmly support the international system, with the UN at its core.

The Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress highlighted the recent Global Governance Initiative (GGI), which aims to promote a more just and equitable global system.

"China stands ready to work with Turkmenistan to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, deepen comprehensive, mutually beneficial cooperation, and advance the construction of a China-Turkmenistan community with a shared future," Zhao Leji stated.

Dr. Hamda bint Hassan Al-Sulaiti, Vice Chairperson of the Qatar Shura Council, emphasized the crucial role of the Group of Friends of Neutrality in a world rife with polarization and conflict, noting that Qatar's balanced approach through diplomacy and impartial mediation has contributed to the resolution of numerous regional and international crises.

The representative of Qatar called on parliaments to take a firm stance, noting that peace can only be achieved through justice.

Russia's Position: For Multipolarity and Against Confrontation

In her video address to the participants of the meeting between Speaker of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation and the Council of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, Valentina Matviyenko emphasized that the Group of Friends of Neutrality is becoming an important format for dialogue based on the principles of openness and equality. "The choice of a neutral position deserves respect. This is especially relevant today, when the world faces serious challenges and threats," the Speaker of the Federation Council stated.

Valentina Matviyenko confirmed that Russia has supported Turkmenistan in its wise foreign policy throughout these years and announced the active participation of the Russian Federal Assembly delegation in the large-scale International Forum in Ashgabat on December 12, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of neutrality.

The Speaker of the Russian Federation Council also emphasized that it was in neutral Turkmenistan that the Interparliamentary Forum of Central Asian Countries and Russia was launched, and proposed the World Youth Festival (Krasnoyarsk, 2026) as a venue for establishing connections between young people from the Group's member countries.

Regional Consensus in Central Asia

Central Asian parliamentarians emphasized that regional unity serves as an example of stability amid global tensions.

Tanzila Narbaeva, Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, noted that "an atmosphere of friendship, openness, and unity reigns in the region thanks to the principled position of the heads of state of Central Asia." She emphasized the role of legislative bodies: "Through legislative practice, we strengthen not only domestic policy but also the atmosphere of regional cooperation and trust... Parliaments play an increasingly important role in strengthening peace, trust, and justice in the interests of peoples."

Senator of Kazakhstan, Chairman of the Senate Committee on International Relations, Defense, and Security Andrei Lukin, also emphasized the growing importance of parliamentary diplomacy. "Given today's geopolitical challenges, the importance of interparliamentary interaction and dialogue is significantly increasing. Kazakhstan is consistently committed to building trust, supporting peace, and sustainable development," Lukin noted.

He particularly emphasized the need to deepen cooperation in the areas of digitalization, ecology, water and energy security, emphasizing that coordinated parliamentary action creates a solid foundation for the development of a stable and predictable cooperation architecture in Central Asia. Speaker of the Majlisi Namoyandagon, Idizode Fayzali Fuzaishlo, represented Tajikistan, and Deputy Speaker, Zhyldyz Sadyrbaeva, represented Kyrgyzstan.

Also participating in the forum were Natalya Kochanova, Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, and Sholban Kara-oola, Deputy Chairperson of the State Duma of the Russian Federation.

The forum was also attended by Natalia Kochanova, Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, and Sholban Kara-oola, Deputy Chairperson of the State Duma of the Russian Federation.

Cooperation with the UN

The meeting, which was attended by Inter-Parliamentary Union Secretary-General Martin Chungong and representatives of the UN and UNICEF, focused on deepening political, diplomatic, trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian ties.

Following the meeting, the parties expressed their readiness to support initiatives aimed at further intensifying inter-parliamentary dialogue and strengthening cooperation.

The Group of Friends of Neutrality was established at the UN in August 2020 on the initiative of Turkmenistan, and to date, 27 states have joined it.

Photo: mejlis.gov.tm