The events, which have occurred from the beginning of 2024, the motto of which is «The Fount of Wisdom of Magtymguly Fragi», confirm adherence of Turkmenistan to its foreign policy strategy based on principles of positive neutrality, peaceful disposition, good neighbourhood and equal multivector cooperation in regional and global dimensions. Under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, our fatherland continues to follow steadily this creative course, developing constructive interaction with its foreign partners in bilateral and multilateral formats.
So, a friendly and fruitful character is invariably typical of relations of Turkmenistan with the states of the Near East. The working visit of National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to the United Arab Emirates in early January of the current year can serve an example for it. During the meeting of Hero-Arkadag with President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, which took place in Abu-Dhabi, a wide spectrum of issues of interstate cooperation, which is developed successfully in political -diplomatic, trade and economic and cultural-humanitarian spheres, were considered.
Following the results of the visit, which also included a visit to the city of Dubai and a meeting of the National Leader of the Turkmen people with heads of companies «Dragon Oil» and «Dubai Aviation Corporation» («Flydubai»), a package of the documents aimed at promotion of efficient partnership in its priority areas was signed.
Steady relations of Turkmenistan with the states of Europe, which are developed on a mutually beneficial basis - both at the interstate level and within the traditional dialogue with the European Union. For recent years, our country and EU have gained a wide partnership experience, have realised and implement joint projects in different areas. Achievements and prospects of mutual relations, which with the opening of the official representative office of EU in 2019 in Ashgabat, have assumed a new uplift, were discussed at the Conference «30 years of cooperation between Turkmenistan and the European Union: joint work for the future», that took place in the capital on May 14.
Being open for equal interaction with all interested foreign partners, our country also develops fruitful relations with states of the Asian-Pacific region. This topic was included in the agenda of the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, which took place on May 25. In the given context, proposals on further expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation with the countries of Asian and Pacific region, including with the People’s Republic of China, Japan, Republic of Korea and Malaysia were made.
At the same time, it was noted that in 2022 Turkmenistan initiated the idea of creating a "Central Asia+ASEAN" format. With a view of its practical realisation, it was proposed to hold a corresponding international meeting or a forum in the second half of the year in our country. Having approved the presented proposals, the head of the state instructed the relevant officials to provide a high organizational level of all planned events.
As to partnership with authoritative international structures in the given area, a special significance is given to interaction with the United Nations Organization and its specialized agencies. A large package of documents signed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on February 18 of the current year testifies to a strategic character of this cooperation between ministries, departments, public organisations of Turkmenistan and Representations of structural divisions of the United Nations Organization that operate in our country - United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Among significant events of this year - unanimous adoption of the Resolution “2025 – International Year of Peace and Trust” on March 21 by the General Assembly of the United Nations at the initiative of our country. 86 member states of the Community of the Nations acted as co-authors of this document.
Developing upon the topic one should mark that on May 3, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a hybrid format meeting of the of the Turkmenistan-UN Strategic Advisory Council. At the end of the meeting, the ceremony of signing of documents in such major areas as preservation of the environment, public health services, rural economy took place.
Neutral Turkmenistan also actively co-operates with others international and regional organisations. Among them - Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, partnership with which, is maintained on a systematic basis. Contacts within the Parliamentary Assembly of OSCE have been also established.
Topical issues of interaction between Turkmenistan and OSCE were discussed at the meeting, which took place on March 5 between President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Helga Schmid who visited Ashgabat. And a day before, on March 4, the Turkmen capital hosted a high level meeting of the head of OSCE and heads of nature protection departments of the countries of Central Asia, devoted to ecological subjects, including climate change.
Cooperation with the Organization of Turkic States, in which Turkmenistan since 2021 has maintained the status of an observer, has been developed into a qualitatively new level. Interaction of our country with OTS is regularly deepened and assumes a new maintenance. The 15th meeting of the Council of Elders of the Organization of Turkic States, which was held in Ashgabat on March 12 under the chairmanship of National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan, a member of the Council of Elders of the OTS Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov also attests to this fact.
Cooperation with the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TÜRKSOY) develops dynamically. As known, in the current year Turkmenistan has become a venue of large events of TÜRKSOY. Those included celebrations and the forums dated to the announcement of the city of Anau as a cultural capital of the Turkic world in 2024 as well as the 10th meeting of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the member states of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), decisions of which found reflexion in the corresponding final document.
Actively co-operating with foreign partners and putting forward concrete initiatives, our country regularly participates in the work of various multilateral formats. So, on the instructions of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov the delegation of Turkmenistan took part in the World Governmental Summit, which took place in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) on February 11-14. This large-scale forum united representatives of more than 120 countries, over 80 international organisations as well as large companies.
During the Summit, the delegation of our country made an emphasis on three issues of the agenda, solution of which is proposed on the basis of global approaches proceeding from international initiatives of the President of Turkmenistan. It was in this connection proposed to create a Global Atlas of Sustainable Transport Connectivity, a Global Energy Security and Sustainability Cooperation Alliance and to develop a Global Circular Economy Transition Framework based on the priorities of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Along with participation in the Summit, the delegation of Turkmenistan held a number of bilateral meetings.
Participation of National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in the third Antalya Diplomacy Forum, which took place on March 1 in the city of Antalya (Republic of Turkiye) also testifies to the adherence of our country to the meaningful dialogue on the international scene. Speaking at that representative multilateral meeting, Hero-Arkadag directed attention to the initiatives put forward by Turkmenistan on maintenance of universal peace, security and sustainable development, active involvement of potential of neutrality and preventive diplomacy in these purposes for strengthening cooperation with the United Nations and other authoritative international structures.
On the sidelines of the Forum, National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov also met President of the Republic of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Hero-Arkadag and the head of the friendly country with satisfaction stated a high level and positive dynamics of interstate relations, which, based upon historically developed generality of two fraternal people, successfully develop in all areas. The number of bilateral documents signed upon completion of the meeting became an acknowledgement to that fact.
In realisation of the foreign policy strategy of Turkmenistan, a special importance is given to traditional cooperation with neighbouring states, in the list of which is also Afghanistan. The exhibition of the Afghani goods and the Turkmen-Afghani business forum called to give a new impulse to bilateral interaction, took place in Ashgabat in early March this year.
As known, on March 4, National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov visited the exhibition of production made in the neighbouring state, and held a business meeting with representatives of the Afghani party. On behalf of the people of Afghanistan, they expressed to Hero-Arkadag and Arkadagly Hero Serdar their deep gratitude for the regular humanitarian aid, attention to issues of bilateral cooperation and measures undertaken to maintain peace and sustainable development in the region.
An official visit of National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to the Republic of Tajikistan, which took place on April 4-5, wrote a new chapter in the history of the Turkmen-Tajik relations, which are based on strong bonds of friendship, brotherhood and good neighbourhood. Following the results of negotiations between Hero-Arkadag and President Emomali Rahmon important agreements were reached and a package of the bilateral documents aimed at further development of interstate cooperation, its development into a qualitatively new level was signed. During his visit, the National Leader of the Turkmen people met Chairmen of the Majlisi Namoyandagon and the Majlisi Milli Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan as well as the head of the government of the brotherly country.
Historically developed friendly relations, long-term experience and impressive potential of cooperation in various spheres make up a basis of the Turkmen-Russian relations built on principles of strategic partnership. Along with an economic component, the humanitarian area, interaction in which promotes rapprochement of the people united by generality of strong cultural and cultural values acts, comprises an integral part of the interstate dialogue.
One of the unforgettable pages of joint history - Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Unprecedented heroism and courage shown in the war and on the home front in severe military years, live for ever in the national memory. Victory Day is really a historically significant event that unites fraternal people of the CIS. In the given context, it was a deeply symbolic that President Serdar Berdimuhamedov participated as guest of honour in solemn actions on the occasion of the 79th anniversary of Great Victory, that took place on May 9 in Moscow. With that end in view at the invitation of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, the head of Turkmenistan made a working visit to the Russian Federation.
One of the important vectors of Turkmen-Russian relations is close contacts with the largest regions and subjects of Russia, in the list of which is Tatarstan. Readiness henceforth to strengthen and increase productive bilateral cooperation was confirmed during meetings of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov with Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov who visited our country in late April for participation in celebrations on the occasion of the national holiday of Turkmen horse.
The working visit of Hero-Arkadag to Kazan on May 15-16 served the next step on the way of development of traditional interaction between Turkmenistan and Tatarstan. At the invitation of the head of Republic of Tatarstan, the National Leader of the Turkmen people as the guest of honour took part in the XV International economic forum «Russia-Islamic world: KazanForum 2024». Speaking at the meeting of the Group of strategic vision «Russia-Islamic world», Hero-Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov made a number of the initiatives, called to give a new effective impulse to interstate cooperation and partnership in the given format.
Within the margins of his visit to Kazan, the meeting between National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, which was held with participation of members of delegations of both parties, took place. Hero-Arkadag and the head of Tatarstan also visited the exhibition of investment and infrastructural projects «Russia Halal Expo» where they familiarised with a large-scale exposition, including with the national pavilion of Turkmenistan. Besides it, the National Leader of the Turkmen people held a number of bilateral meetings.
And certainly, an important event of 2024, which holds the motto «The Fount of Wisdom of Magtymguly Fragi», was wide celebration of the 300th birthday anniversary of the great Turkmen poet and thinker, whose creative heritage, being an invaluable national property, is an integral part of treasury of world culture. On the occasion of the significant date, the capital hosted festivities with participation of numerous foreign visitors and personified firmness of true universal values with inspiring songs based on poems of the outstanding master of poetry.
In the evening of May 17, in the southern part of Ashgabat, at the picturesque foothills of the Kopet Dagh with participation of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the monument to Magtymguly Fragi and a cultural-park complex «Magtymguly Pyragy» were solemnly opened.
Events in honour of the anniversary assumed really a world scale. As known, the International Organisation of Turkic culture (TURKSOY) declared 2024 as the «Year of the great poet and thinker of the Turkic world - Magtymguly Fragi». The collection of manuscripts of the founder of Turkmen classical literature was included into the International Register of the Memory of the World Programme of the UNESCO. Besides it, the 300th birthday anniversary Magtymguly Fragi was included in the UNESCO List of Memorable Dates. All it testifies to the universal value of creativity of the great poet and thinker.
It is remarkable that the structure of the new complex created at the initiative of Hero-Arkadag, also includes the alley where monuments to well-known figures of literature and philosophers representing different countries and continents were established. It is a visible symbol of friendship, brotherhood and good neighbourhood of people, to what immortal works by Magtymguly Fragi call.
Besides it, within the celebrations the capital hosted the International conference at the level of ministers of culture of foreign states and the International scientific conference «The Fount of Wisdom of Magtymguly Fragi».
The current month Ashgabat also became a venue of the next meeting of the Council of heads of governments of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Being and associated member of the CIS, neutral Turkmenistan shows adherence to equal fruitful dialogue in the Commonwealth, taking an active and initiative position in issues of interstate partnership.
Representative delegations of member countries of the Commonwealth took part in the meeting of the Council of Heads of Governments of the Commonwealth of Independent States, which took place on May 24. On the instructions of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Deputy-Chairman of the Cabinet Kh.Geldimyradov headed the delegation of Turkmenistan. The outcome of the meeting was sounded at the press conference at which a high organizational level of the forum and its productivity were especially marked. A powerful contribution of Turkmenistan to development of multiplane partnership in the format of the CIS was thus underlined.
Prior to the beginning of the meeting, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov held meetings with heads of delegations of member states of the Commonwealth in which the aim of the parties at further effective cooperation, optimum realisation of available cumulative potential was confirmed.
Priority areas and prospects of interstate interaction within the CIS also became a subject of interested exchange of opinions during the meetings, which took place on May 22 between the head of the state and Hero-Arkadag and Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Good will and mutual support principles, readiness to offer a helping hand during difficult moments are typical of relations of Turkmenistan with world countries. As known, on May 21, National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov visited the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Ashgabat. On behalf of the President of Turkmenistan, on his own behalf and all Turkmen people, Hero-Arkadag presented his deep condolences in connection with the tragic event - helicopter crash in which President Sayed Ebrahim Raisi and high-ranking officials of IRI were lost.
Having conveyed words of sincere sympathy and support to the leadership and the people of the neighbouring country, the family of victims, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty made a note in the Book of condolences. In connection with day of mourning, National Leader of the Turkmen people, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov also made a trip to the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Thus, Turkmenistan, firmly adhering to the legal status of positive neutrality, based on firm humanistic principles, continues to put into practice consistently creative foreign policy, bringing a concrete contribution to the strengthening of positive regional and global processes, development of constructive international cooperation that meets the purposes of universal peace, well-being and prosperity.