Serdar Berdimuhamedov summed up the results of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy activities for the year
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov summed up the results of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy activities and identified the tasks of the country’s diplomatic corps for the future. Speaking at an extended meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday, the head of state emphasized that in this area the country is guided by the legal status of permanent neutrality of an independent state and the goals outlined in the Concept of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy for 2022-2028.
Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that 2023 was a successful year for the diplomacy of Turkmenistan, which carried out consistent work in the name of universal peace, stability and security, to develop economic and trade cooperation, interstate relations in the humanitarian spheres and through inter-parliamentary interaction.
Turkmenistan is also moving towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Particular importance is attached to partnership in such areas as energy security, sustainable transport system, climate change, etc. This year, on the initiative of Turkmenistan, the UN General Assembly adopted resolutions on the role of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia and on the establishment of World Sustainable Transport Day.
The national nomination of Turkmenistan “Ahal-Teke horse breeding art and traditions of horse decoration” has been included in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Also the World Heritage List includes the multilateral nominations “The Great Silk Road: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor” and “Turan Temperate Deserts” proposed for consideration to UNESCO by Turkmenistan together with the countries of the region. And the city of Ashgabat entered the UNESCO Global Network of Creative Cities in the “Design” category.
Serdar Berdimuhamedov called the participation of the delegation of Turkmenistan in the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Dubai, UAE, where the country announced its accession to the Global Methane Commitment, as an important event of the year.
The head of state emphasized that it is necessary to intensify the political and diplomatic promotion of the initiative to establish a UN Regional Center for Climate Change Technologies in Central Asia in Turkmenistan.
Turkmenistan also proposed to the UN to develop a Global Security Strategy. In this context, the President instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to begin creating a UN initiative group to prepare this strategy. Serdar Berdimuhamedov also spoke about the importance of Turkmenistan’s initiative “Dialogue is a guarantee of peace” and its relevance over time.
The strategic goal of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy remains unchanged - ensuring favorable international conditions for internal development, the President said.
Particular attention is paid to interaction with the states of the Central Asian region. In this aspect, the head of state emphasized the importance of implementing agreements and decisions adopted at the Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia and in other formats of regional interaction.
Serdar Berdimuhamedov also focused on working with partner countries to fully implement the agreements reached at the VI Ashgabat Summit of the Caspian States, and taking measures to implement joint projects in accordance with the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea.
Turkmenistan is expanding political, trade and economic contacts with the states of the Asia-Pacific region, implementing the strategy of reviving the Great Silk Road as a multimodal transport and transit corridor from Asia to Europe.
The President recalled that at a high-level conference within the framework of the Third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, Turkmenistan proposed a project of a transport corridor from China through Central Asia to the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea, as well as to Iran, the Near and Middle East. The task was set to establish a substantive dialogue with interested parties to develop specific agreements on this project.
Our country has big plans and programs with European countries in the field of energy, transport, technology and a number of other areas, Serdar Berdimuhamedov continued.
The countries of the Middle East are long-standing important partners of Turkmenistan, the head of state said, noting the importance of intensifying ties within the Economic Cooperation Organization, which involves close interaction in the economic, energy, transport and communication spheres.
The President noted that Turkmenistan has significantly expanded relations with the countries of the Arab world, including within the framework of the new format “Central Asia - Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf,” which has great prospects and requires special attention.
Serdar Berdimuhamedov announced Turkmenistan’s intention to develop interaction with the states of North and South America and the African continent, including partnership within the UN and other international structures.
This cooperation includes issues of security, including food and environmental security, ensuring women's rights, protecting the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries in international trade, the head of state noted, adding that there are great opportunities for diversifying relations in the economic sector.
According to the head of Turkmenistan, it is no less important to pay attention to inter-parliamentary contacts in international cooperation. In recent years, Turkmenistan has initiated and organized a number of major forums with the participation of parliamentary representatives, and work in this direction will be continued, the President said, instructing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to consider interparliamentary relations as a special vector of activity and, together with the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, to prepare a plan for promising international events.
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