Turkmenistan and New Zealand Held Their First Political Consultations
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand held their first bilateral political consultations. The meeting of diplomats at the departmental level took place on July 28 via videoconference.
The diplomats noted the closeness of Ashgabat and Wellington's positions on key issues of global peace and security and agreed to continue mutual support for initiatives at the UN. Specifically, the Turkmen side expressed gratitude to New Zealand for co-sponsoring an international resolution on reliable and stable energy transit.
Among the promising areas of cooperation, the parties highlighted sustainable transport and energy, environmental protection, and green technologies. The consultations covered joint projects within the framework of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026–2035), as well as the promotion of Turkmenistan's environmental initiatives, including the establishment of a UN Regional Climate Technology Centre in Ashgabat.
In the trade and economic sphere, diplomats acknowledged that current trade figures do not yet reflect the two countries' true potential. High technology, agriculture and water management, as well as direct commercial cooperation, were identified as the most promising areas for cooperation. Furthermore, the parties intend to develop cultural and educational ties, from inter-university exchanges to online festivals and museum projects.
