On the sidelines of the International Conference "The Role of Women in Modern Society: Developing International Cooperation to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals," Oguljahan Atabayeva, Vice President for Medical Affairs at the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation, held a series of bilateral meetings. These talks emphasized the multifaceted nature of Turkmenistan's humanitarian diplomacy.
Priority was given to strengthening relations with immediate neighbors and fraternal nations, which is one of the important areas of Turkmenistan's foreign policy:
Uzbekistan and Tajikistan: During a meeting with Saida Mirziyoyeva, Head of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Uzbekistan, it was noted that Turkmenistan's positive experience in organizing forums strengthens its role on the international stage. In a dialogue with Mansouri Dilrabo, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan, emphasis was placed on developing cultural and humanitarian cooperation as a reliable guarantor of long-term partnership.
Iran and China: During talks with Fatima Mohajerani, Press Secretary of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the interlocutors emphasized the closeness of their cultures and traditions, citing cultural and humanitarian cooperation as one of the key areas of interaction. A meeting with Huang Xiaowei, Vice Chair of the All-China Women's Federation, demonstrated the dynamic pace of development of relations. The Chinese side called the conference a "strategic investment in global development," reaffirming the connection between achieving the SDGs and the equal participation of women.
Meetings with representatives of international organizations and distant partners confirmed Turkmenistan's global standing as a bridge for dialogue:
United Nations: During a meeting with UN Under-Secretary-General and Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva, Tatyana Valovaya, the importance of multifaceted cooperation with the UN was reaffirmed. Valovaya noted that Turkmenistan strives to become a "bridge for dialogue" between East and West, leveraging the role of women to build a stable future.
New Partners: The presence of delegations from distant countries underscored the significance of the Forum. For example, Selmira do Sacramento, Speaker of the National Assembly of Sao Tome and Principe, noted that hosting such a forum demonstrates Turkmenistan's responsible approach to the realization of women's rights. Lindiwa Dlamini, Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Eswatini, and Maryam bint Ali Al-Missned, Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, also emphasized the high level of organization of the event and Turkmenistan's commitment to UN principles and humanitarian cooperation.
As part of humanitarian cooperation, a meeting was held with Natalia Manturova, Head of Department at the N.I. Pirogov Research Medical University (Russia). During the conversation, the development of humanitarian cooperation between the two countries was raised, emphasizing the importance of the Forum for establishing an effective dialogue between governments and civil society to strengthen the role of women in society.
A series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Forum confirmed that Turkmenistan is actively using international platforms to strengthen its position in the UN, develop good-neighborly relations, and expand humanitarian cooperation worldwide, demonstrating its unwavering commitment to the principles of neutrality.
