Ashgabat and Phnom Penh Lay the Foundation for Bilateral Dialogue and the Central Asian + ASEAN Format
On May 8, the first political consultations between the foreign ministries of Turkmenistan and Cambodia took place in the capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The Turkmen delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Akhmet Gurbanov, and the Cambodian delegation was led by State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ung Rachana. The meeting in Phnom Penh proved an effective tool for promoting mutually beneficial partnerships and identifying new, promising areas of cooperation.
The diplomats noted the strategic importance of organizing high-level contacts, which are intended to open new horizons for expanding bilateral ties. Particular attention was paid to strengthening interparliamentary contacts through online meetings and reciprocal visits by friendship group delegations. Along with the political dialogue, the parties noted the need to consistently expand and improve the legal framework between the two countries, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.
A high level of cooperation was noted within international and regional organizations, primarily the UN. In this context, the Turkmen side expressed profound gratitude to Cambodia for its continued support of Ashgabat's international initiatives and its co-authorship of several UN resolutions initiated by Turkmenistan.
A separate topic of discussion was cooperation within ASEAN, which serves as an effective partnership platform not only in the Southeast Asian region but also far beyond. It was emphasized that Cambodia fully supports Turkmenistan's initiative to create a promising dialogue format, "Central Asia + ASEAN."
Establishing direct contacts between business circles, holding joint business forums, and conducting trade missions were identified as priority areas for developing trade and economic ties. The parties see broad prospects for cooperation in the textile industry, agriculture, and processing. Particular emphasis was placed on enhancing transport and logistics cooperation through the effective use of existing and emerging international transport corridors.
To intensify humanitarian dialogue, it was proposed to consider holding cross-cultural Days of Culture. In the context of promoting the two countries' rich historical and cultural heritage, the diplomats emphasized the importance of establishing direct contacts between tourism companies. They also noted the broad prospects for fruitful cooperation in the field of education.
