All this is priority cornerstones of the successful foreign policy strategy of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, which is based on principles of positive neutrality and displays conformity to both national interests and long-term objectives of world community and is aimed at maintenance of universal stability and security.
On December 1-2, the head of Turkmenistan made a working visit to the United Arab Emirates for participation in the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-28).
Speaking at the forum, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov stated positions of our country on development of well-thought solutions to topical ecological issues called to provide further progress to control climate change and its consequences.
So, the head of the state announced accession of Turkmenistan to the Global Methane Pledge. As was marked, simultaneously with it, our country will continue cooperation with international organisations and states-partners within the framework of existing projects and programs aimed at fulfilment of conditions, proceeding from the given document.
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov confirmed the initiative of Turkmenistan to open a UN Regional Centre for Climate Change Technologies in Central Asia in Turkmenistan.
At the same time, the head of the state underlined that Turkmenistan welcomes the Declaration on Climate and Health as well as fully supports the Emirates’ Declaration of sustainable agriculture, steady food systems and combat against climate change and the Initiative to create a COP-28 Coalition for multi-level partnerships with high ambitions to combat climate change.
On the same day, “on the margins” of the COP-28 Conference, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov held a meeting with Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Inger Andersen and discussed topical issues of cooperation in the sphere of nature protection. Readiness of Turkmenistan and UNEP for the further strengthening of traditional fruitful interaction was confirmed at that.
The state and prospects of promotion of an established constructive interstate dialogue successfully developed on a bilateral and multilateral basis were discussed during the meeting of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov with Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, which took place on December 2.
Members of the delegation of our country took part in the events held on the sidelines of the COP-28 Conference and devoted to such top significant issues as reform of food systems, mechanisms of financing of preservation of the environment, intensification of international cooperation in ecology taking into account the climatic factor.
In chronology of events of the past week – an online working meeting of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on November 27 at which activities carried out in agriculture of the country and the capital were discussed.
The head of the state emphasised that fulfilment of qualitative work with observance of agro-technical standards in the fields is an important requirement of time and instructed the relevant authorities to accelerate rates of harvest of the remained cotton and ensure due care of crops.
He also gave a number of instructions to ensure quality of construction of the projects to be opened this year within the framework of the Program of social and economic development of the country.
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov underlined significance of festivities, which will be held in the capital on the occasion of International Day of Neutrality and New Year and instructed related officials to ensure holiday decoration and conduction of cultural events at a high level.
On November 27, a telephone conversation between President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry took place.
Issues related to preparations for the upcoming COP-28 Conference in Dubai, climate issues, in particular, interaction between Turkmenistan and the United States in the field of reducing methane emissions into the atmosphere and the possibility of legally consolidating cooperation in this area became topics of the conversation.
On November 28, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov received Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mikayil Chingiz oglu Jabbarov, who arrived in our country at the head of the representative delegation for participation in the 7th meeting of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Azerbaijan commission on economic cooperation.
The basic theme of discussion-involved prospect of further development of traditional partnership built on a long-term basis.
During the meeting, necessity of strengthening of the role of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Azerbaijan commission on economic cooperation as co-ordinating body for development of relations in trade and economic, energy, transport-communication, scientific and technical, cultural-humanitarian and other spheres was underlined.
On November 29, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov received Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Vice-Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Ding Xuexiang. During the meeting, an interested exchange of views took place on the agenda of the 6th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee.
It was emphasized that the bilateral partnership, which is strategic and long-term in nature, is effectively developing at the highest state, government and ministerial levels. At the same time, inter-parliamentary and inter-party ties are intensifying. Interregional cooperation also received a new effective impetus.
On November 30, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov held a regular online meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, the agenda of which included social issues of social and economic development of the country and drafts of some documents.
In particular, it considered issues of improvement of material and technical support of gas compressor installations of "Türkmengaz" State Concern, further accomplishment of the architectural shape of the capital, course of seasonal agricultural campaigns and preparation for forthcoming important actions.
At the meeting, the head of Turkmenistan signed the Resolution aimed at ensuring of successful fulfilment of the State budget for 2024 approved at the fourth session of deputies of the Mejlis of the seventh convocation, rational use of the funds and increase of incomes.
Having considered the proposals, related to the new general plan of construction projects in Ashgabat for the period till 2045, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov instructed to be guided by advanced achievements of science and technology as well as advanced practice of town-planning in its development.
At the meeting, the information on the work carried out by the trade complex to get ready for celebration of International Day of Neutrality and New Year was also delivered.
Preparation for the exhibition of export goods of the Republic of Turkiye and Turkmen-Turkish business forum to be held on its sidelines as well as seventh meeting of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Turkish commission on economic cooperation was also informed.
Preparation for publication of the international scientific collection “Asyrlaryň yzlary” in which results of researches of historical and cultural monuments of the country will be widely presented, became one of the topics of the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers. Experts and scientists from France, Italy, Great Britain and Russia were included in the editorial board along with Turkmen experts.
As was informed, according to the goals defined in National and Presidential programs of social and economic development of the country, the Ministry of Education is engaged in development of the draft of “Regulations of state accreditation of educational activity” that will promote inclusion of educational institutions into world ratings. At present, 9 higher educational establishments of the country are members of International Association of Universities.
A number of events are planned to hold in honour of the 28th anniversary of neutrality of Turkmenistan - International Conference "Dialogue is the Guarantee of Peace", meeting of Group of friends of neutrality for peace, security and sustainable development as well as a round table, dated to the 75th anniversary of General Declaration of Human Rights and International Day of Neutrality. It is also expected to organise competitions in various sports with participation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic missions accredited to Turkmenistan and representations of international organisations.
The information on practical steps taken to approve the State Program for Ensuring Aviation Security of Civil Aviation and creation of an Interdepartmental Commission for Civil Aviation Security was also delivered. The due work is carried out in accordance with the standards, experience and practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
At the meeting, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov pointed out that at the end of the year a solemn Youth forum and exhibition, which will give a worthy estimation of activity of the youth for the year will be held and instructed the related authorities to carry out planned actions at a high organizational level.
In this connection, on December 2, National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, having made a working trip to the capital, held a working meeting with participation of the Chairman of the Mejlis, Deputy-Chairmen of the Cabinet as well as heads of corresponding departments and organisations in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Its agenda included organizational issues of the forthcoming forum.
Hero-Arkadag, having focused the attention on a number of major issues, gave concrete instructions to maintain a high level of the conference, exhibition, concert and awarding ceremony of representatives of the younger generation of the country, who achieved good results in work, study, and sports and brought a worthy contribution to the development of the country.
Among other events of the week – 7th meeting of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Azerbaijan commission on economic cooperation, which was held in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan.
Having discussed the course of realisation of earlier reached agreements, the parties underlined importance of intensification of time-honoured relations, exploration of new ways and forms of interaction.
A special emphasis was made on promising areas of partnership, including trade and economic, oil and gas and electric power as well as construction, textile, communications and agricultural spheres.
As was underlined, the basic vector of joint was and remains to be an assistance to establishment of direct contacts between business circles of two countries, to what business forums, negotiations, exhibitions and others are called to promote.
By the results of the meeting, the corresponding Protocol and other documents were signed.
Discussion of possibilities of intensification of trade and economic cooperation and prospects of expansion of business ties proceeded on the margins of the Turkmen-Azerbaijan business forum.
During bilateral meetings and negotiations, approaches to the further development of business partnership were concretised.
In the past week, Ashgabat also hosted the regular sixth meeting of the Turkmen-Chinese intergovernmental committee on cooperation.
Its agenda included a wide spectrum of issues concerning implementation of earlier reached agreements, encouragement of investment interaction and realisation of new joint projects.
In particular, issues of development of partnership in energy, transport-logistics and scientific and technical spheres, trade, industrial sectors, agrarian and industrial complex as well as in the area of business circles were discussed.
The importance of strengthening of fruitful relations in the sphere of education, sciences and culture as well as public health services and high technologies was marked.
By the results of the meeting, the corresponding Protocol, Memorandum of mutual understanding between the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan and Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China on deepening scientific and technical cooperation and the Agreement between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on international road transport were signed.
In the past week, the Mejlis accepted credentials from the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria to Turkmenistan Amar Belani and the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Turkmenistan Nicolaas Jacob Schermers.
Diplomats were acquainted with key areas of the state strategy of Turkmenistan. Prospect of expansion of inter-parliamentary relations and intensification of fruitful cooperation both in bilateral and multilateral formats became a subject of an interested exchange of opinions.
The exposition centre of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the country became a venue of the international exhibition of modern production technologies of foodstuff “Agro-Pak Turkmenistan-2023”.
About 90 local and foreign companies as well as private businesspersons displayed their production and huge potential there.
The 14th World Kurash Championship, where 181 sportsmen from 45 countries of four continents of the planet - Asia, Africa, Europe as well as South and North America competed for 15 complete sets of medals, was over in the sports complex of martial arts of the capital Olympic village with great success for the national team of Turkmenistan.
Our sportsmen in 15 weight categories - in seven men's and eight female - won 15 medals, from which five gold, six silver and four bronze.
The media forum, which was held in the conference hall of hotel "Sport" of the Olympic village, was devoted to the results of the 14th World Kurash Championship.
President of the International Kurash Association (IKA) Haider Farman, having expressed his deep gratitude to the President of Turkmenistan and the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan, Hero-Arkadag for creation favourable conditions by the Turkmen party to hold this tournament as well as for exemplary work on development of physical culture and sports, the Olympic movement, strengthening of peace and mutual understanding, handed them sports equipment and corresponding certificates.
Thus, events of the past week once again served an example of regularity and success of the realised large-scale goals of the foreign and home policy of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov focused on wide international cooperation and called to provide further progress in all spheres of life of the country.