Turkmenistan and the Philippines Hold New Round of Political Consultations
Bilateral political consultations between the foreign ministries of Turkmenistan and the Republic of the Philippines took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. The delegation from Ashgabat was led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Gurbanov, while the Philippine side was headed by the Assistant Secretary for Policy at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Leo M. Herrera-Lim.
The diplomats reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations, with an emphasis on expanding trade and economic ties, strengthening the legal framework, and fostering cooperation within the United Nations. Particular attention was paid to partnerships in the fields of energy, maritime transport, tourism, and education, including the promotion of academic and cultural exchanges.
The first inter-foreign ministry consultations between the two countries took place in Manila in August 2024. Since then, diplomatic dialogue has intensified significantly. In 2026, Manila will hold the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which opens a "window of opportunity" for Ashgabat to launch a "Central Asia + ASEAN" dialogue format—an initiative previously proposed by the leadership of Turkmenistan.
At present, the parties are already preparing proposals to institutionalize this format, with the aim of establishing unified transport corridors and energy routes between the two macro-regions. A "roadmap" for bilateral cooperation for 2026 also includes plans for high-level visits, collaboration on energy security, and the promotion of direct business-to-business contacts.
