At the CICA Summit in Baku, Serdar Berdimuhamedov Proposed Integrating Turkmenistan’s Global Initiatives into the Asian Agenda
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov participated in the 7th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), held on October 15 in Baku. In his address, the Head of State presented a broad vision of how key foreign policy initiatives previously put forward by Turkmenistan at the UN could serve as effective practical tools for strengthening trust and sustainable development across the Asian continent.
The Head of State emphasized that the current summit is taking place during an era of profound geopolitical transformation, a time when strict adherence to international law and the UN Charter is of fundamental importance. In this context, Serdar Berdimuhamedov highlighted global initiatives promoted by Ashgabat at the UN: the designation of 2028 as the Year of International Law and the declaration of 2027–2037 as the Decade of Dialogue and Preventive Diplomacy. The President of Turkmenistan called for leveraging the potential of preventive diplomacy and the UN Regional Centre in Ashgabat directly within the CICA framework to prevent conflicts and seek compromises.
In the context of implementing the UN General Assembly resolution on the Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026–2035), the President of Turkmenistan proposed extending this initiative to the sectoral level within the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) by establishing a permanent dialogue among the transport ministers of member states. This framework is intended to eliminate infrastructure barriers, accelerate the development of regulations for multimodal transport, and facilitate the creation of a Global Atlas of Sustainable Transport Connectivity. Particular emphasis was placed on expanding multimodal transport along East–West and North–South corridors, providing Central and South Asia with access to European markets via the Caspian Sea.
Addressing the technological challenges of the modern era, Serdar Berdimuhamedov invited CICA member states to support an initiative—spearheaded by Turkmenistan under the auspices of the UN—to develop an International Code for the Peaceful Use of Artificial Intelligence in International Relations and Diplomacy. This code is intended to establish ethical standards and mitigate risks associated with digitalization.
The environmental segment of the address focused on promoting another national initiative: the establishment of an "Ashgabat Climate Dialogue." The head of state proposed utilizing this platform within the framework of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) to address pressing regional challenges, such as climate change adaptation, the fight against desertification, and the implementation of advanced water-saving technologies.
Regarding the humanitarian dimension, the national leader suggested strengthening it through the development of youth diplomacy, which serves as a fundamental element of a culture of peace. A practical step in this direction is Turkmenistan’s proposal to form a "Network of Young Ambassadors of Trust," composed of active and progressive young people from CICA member states.
