Steadily implementing the foreign policy course based on the status of permanent neutrality, Turkmenistan consistently develops constructive cooperation with foreign partners in both bilateral and multilateral formats. By taking an initiative position in developing solutions to priority issues of our time, our country makes a significant contribution to consolidating efforts to ensure peace, security and stability, and expanding international cooperation.

Last week, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov paid a working visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he took part in the Summit of the Heads of State of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Central Asian Countries.

In his speech at the forum held on July 19 in Jeddah city, the head of Turkmenistan noted that today a complex international political situation is developing in various regions. A similar situation is observed in areas adjacent to the countries of Central Asia and the States that are members of the Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf. In this regard, the President of Turkmenistan spoke about the expediency of creating a permanent mechanism – the Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Central Asian countries and the GCC.

Along with cooperation on political issues, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov outlined the intensification of trade and economic partnership, where transport, energy, investment and trade are priority vectors.

In order to increase cooperation in these areas, it seems important to form new transport and transit corridors, stable and reliable logistics infrastructure, the primary task of which is to unite our regions. To coordinate efforts in this sector, it is considered to establish a Transport Committee of the countries of the Central Asia–GCC format.

The Head of Turkmenistan emphasized the great importance attached to energy. Our states have rich sources of energy, fuel and energy resources and powerful production facilities for their processing.

In this context, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov announced the initiative to form a Joint Working Group on energy, whose function will be to analyze the potential of collective activity in this area and afford consultations.

The Head of Turkmenistan also initiated the creation of the Chamber of Commerce of the Central Asian and GCC countries, the “Cultural Dialogue” and the Environmental Council of the Central Asian countries and the Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf.

In addition, it was emphasized the readiness to hold the First Investment Forum in Turkmenistan in 2024, and the Medical Congress of Central Asian Countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council in 2025. As a starting step in the development of partnership in the field of physical culture and sports, a proposal was made to organize the First International Sports Games of the Central Asian States and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

During the working visit, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov held a meeting with Crown Prince, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.

During the exchange of views on the prospects of bilateral cooperation, it was highlighted that our countries cooperate constructively in a multilateral format. In this context, it was noted the importance of the current Summit, laid the foundations for deepening mutually beneficial ties between the Gulf States and Central Asia. The voiced concrete proposals of Turkmenistan, which were received with approval by all participants of the forum, are also intended to contribute to this.

In the chronology of the events of the past week, there is a regular meeting of the State Security Council, dedicated to the results of the work of military and law enforcement agencies for the first half of this year, which the President of Turkmenistan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the country, Army General Serdar Berdimuhamedov, held on July 17.

The agenda also included issues of ensuring security and tranquility in independent Turkmenistan, strengthening the material and technical base of law enforcement agencies and further improving their activities.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted the commitment of the Homeland to the legal status of neutrality, relations of friendship and good neighborliness with states and peoples of the world, the purely defensive nature of the national Military doctrine. In accordance with the tasks and the provisions defined in it, further improvement of the structure of military and law enforcement agencies will be carried out, the country’s defense capability will be strengthened, social and service conditions of servicemen and their family members will be improved.

On July 21, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov held a regular meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers via the digital system to consider issues of socio-economic development of Turkmenistan and drafts of some documents.

The Head of State was informed about the activities of the National Parliament to further improve legislative acts, in particular, in the field of social security.

It was reported on the modernization of the infrastructure of the oil and gas sector, measures to improve the efficiency of the marine industry, the course of seasonal agricultural campaigns, the ongoing work to strengthen the scientific potential of the country, as well as the popularization of the national cultural heritage of the Turkmen people in the world.

A number of proposals were announced for the implementation of the foreign policy course of the neutral Homeland in current year.

Thus, it is proposed to prepare “Priority positions of Turkmenistan at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly”. The document will outline the initiatives and approaches of our country to the most important issues on the global agenda related to ensuring peace, security and sustainable development, ecology and environmental protection, climate change, health and the humanitarian sphere.

It is proposed to develop a draft “Medium-term strategy of the main directions of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy” taking into account the situation in various regions, including those adjacent to our region, the geopolitical situation, as well as on the basis of the Concept of the foreign policy course of neutral Turkmenistan for 2022-2028.

In order to continue constructive cooperation in the field of security in the regional and global dimensions, it is suggested to develop a draft “Plan for enhancing international cooperation of relevant state institutions of Turkmenistan in the fight against terrorism for 2023-2025”.

Along with this, it is proposed to prepare a draft “Program for the development of international cooperation of Turkmenistan in the tourism industry for 2024-2025”.

The Head of State also submitted a proposal for the development of a draft “Concept for the development of international exhibition activities of Turkmenistan for 2024-2025”.

Addressing the participants of the meeting, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that the large-scale socio-economic reforms implemented in the country are based on the latest scientific achievements. In a short time, planned measures have been successfully implemented to strengthen the base of the field of science and bring it to the world level. Today, this work is systemic in nature, being the main factor in the harmonious development of the national economy.

Noting that the use of advanced developments and achievements of world science in the sectors of the national economy is an urgent requirement, the President of the country addressed specific commissions to the Deputy Chairmen of the Cabinet of Ministers.

At the meeting, the Head of state signed a Decree “On the construction of a shopping center in the Turkmen-Uzbek border zone of Dashoguz velayat”.

Inter-parliamentary relations and prospects for their development, as well as specific areas of interaction on a wide range were discussed during the meeting of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held on July 20 with the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Kim Jin Pyo, being in Turkmenistan on an official visit at the head of a representative delegation of his country.

In accordance with the Decree of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty, to the applause of the audience, presented the head of the Korean parliament with the “Bitaraplyk” Order which he was awarded for his services in the development of political, diplomatic, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian contacts between the two countries, strengthening the bonds of friendship between the Turkmen and Korean peoples.

Speaking to the Mejlis deputies on the same day, the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea emphasized the importance of strengthening interstate ties in various fields and increasing the effectiveness of joint projects within the framework of parliamentary cooperation.

On July 21, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov received Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Kim Jin Pyo.

The head of the Korean Parliament conveyed the head of state cordial greetings from President Yoon Suk Yeol, who addressed wishes of well-being and prosperity to the entire Turkmen people, and also expressed deep gratitude to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov for granting him a high award – the “Bitaraplyk” Order, underlining that he would continue to fully promote the development of bilateral partnership.

The Head of State and the guest exchanged views on priority issues of Turkmen-Korean relations in the political and diplomatic sphere and through reputable international organizations, primarily the UN.

It was noted that contacts between the legislative bodies of the two countries have intensified in recent years, where mutual visits at a high parliamentary level are of particular importance.

The long-term nature is inherent in trade and economic partnership. Turkmenistan has gained solid experience in cooperation with leading Korean companies, implemented a number of major projects in the gas chemical industry, there are broad prospects for the implementation of new joint projects.

The sides also discussed issues of cooperation in the humanitarian sphere.

During his stay in Turkmenistan, the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea and members of the delegation accompanying him got acquainted with the sights and infrastructure of Arkadag city, visited the Gerogly State Equestrian Circus, where, along with the performances of the Galkynyş National Equestrian Games Group, the famous horse Akhan demonstrated its noble strength, examined with great interest the collection of rare samples and modern products of the capital The National Museum of the Turkmen Carpet.

Among other events of the past week was the meeting of the Presidium of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan, held on July 18 in the Congress Center of the capital under the chairmanship of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty.

The issues of socio-economic development of the country, the implementation of the tasks outlined by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov at an expanded meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, as well as preparations for the celebrations on the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of the independence of the Homeland and for the meeting of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan were discussed.

Hero-Arkadag highlighted priority aspects for working out the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan based on the analysis of economic and financial indicators of the branches of the national economy.

Noting the need to prepare as soon as possible information on the achievements of our country in the trade, economic, industrial, industrial, managerial, legislative, socio-cultural spheres, as well as proposals based on them, Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov identified important areas of work together with the organizing committee of the Staff of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan in accordance with Article 19 of the Constitutional Law “About the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan”.

At the meeting, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty signed a Resolution of the Presidium of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan on convening and organizing the next meeting of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan on September 24, 2023 in Ashgabat, at the Maslakhat köşgi Palace. The document envisages the creation of an appropriate organizing committee, approval of its composition and the Procedure for electing members of the public to the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan, proposed from the halk maslakhaty of the velayats and Ashgabat city.

Hero-Arkadag also signed a Resolution of the Presidium of the Halk Maslakhaty on the establishment of the Council of Elders of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan, approving the Position and composition of this supreme representative body of the people’s power of Turkmenistan.

The Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Guardianship, located in Arkadag city, received a message of gratitude from Ukraine in response to the humanitarian aid sent in March this year in the form of medicines and medical supplies, textile and food products manufactured in our country. The message of thanks and the corresponding photos will be placed in the Museum of the Foundation.

It should be noted that, following the principles of humanism and good-neighborliness of the Turkmen people, humanitarian aid was also sent to the Republic of Türkiye and Afghanistan at the expense of the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation created on the initiative of the Hero-Arkadag to help children in need of guardianship. This is a clear confirmation of the friendliness of the Turkmen people, their ability to empathize and help those who need support.

Last week, credentials from the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federative Republic of Brazil to Turkmenistan, Rubem Antonio Correa Barbosa, were accepted in the Mejlis.

The diplomat underlined the existing potential for expanding bilateral partnership in the trade and economic sphere, in the field of science, education, sports and tourism, as well as the intensification of cultural dialogue.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a regular meeting of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The directions of further partnership were outlined, particularly in the context of proposals, put forward by Turkmenistan to include national values in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, and issues of holding an international forum next year in Ashgabat dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s accession to this organization were discussed.

Elections of Gengesh members were held in Aba Annayev village of Kyarizek etrap of Arkadag city. Ten candidates applied for five seats, almost half of whom were women.

On July 17, a campaign for the admission of documents to universities and secondary vocational educational institutions of Turkmenistan was launched. This year, for the first time, students are being recruited to the Aba Annayev International Academy of Horse Breeding, as well as students to the Berdimuhamed Annayev Pedagogical Secondary Vocational School and the Sachly Dursunova Medical Secondary Vocational School, located in Arkadag city.

Thus, the events of the past week have once again become a vivid illustration of the fact that the policy of peace, kindness and openness to constructive cooperation, pursued by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov steadily facilitates achieving the goals of the era of the Revival of the new epoch of the powerful state – the creation of a powerful, innovative and intensively developing economy, the multiplication of the international authority of the Homeland, and the growth of the well-being of native people.