Turkmen delegation takes part in the working meeting of Heads of the Central Asia states

The delegation of Turkmenistan, including the representatives of the Mejlis took part in the working (consultative) meeting of the heads of Central Asia states in Astana. The agenda includes the issues on expanding cooperation between the countries of the region in such important areas as economy, trade, logistics, transport and communications. 

During the meeting, the Chairperson of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan read out the address of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to the summit of the Heads of Central Asia states. The Turkmen leader emphasizes in his address that cooperation with the nearest neighbors is one of the priority aspects of the foreign policy strategy of our state, which is aimed at developing the broad partnership with the countries of the region, promoting the equal, trustful dialogue in all directions, both in bilateral and multilateral formats. 

The President of Turkmenistan underlines that based on the principles of positive neutrality, Turkmenistan always actively participates in mutually beneficial cooperation with the countries of our region, including in various international formats. Today, strengthening of regional security is of special importance in the relations between the Central Asian countries. In this regard, it is necessary to note the invariability and consistency of Turkmenistan's approaches to this issue. Our country firmly stands for the creation of the strong and effective mechanisms that would ensure the peaceful and stable development of Central Asia, the avoidance of conflict situations, the strengthening of good-neighborliness, the observance and consideration of mutual interests. 

The Turkmen leader notes that today, we have to ensure the sustainable development that contributes to the mutual understanding between the Central Asian states and promotes the effectiveness of regional cooperation. In this context, Turkmenistan demonstrates the commitment to increasing the economic potential of the region and its competitiveness in the world arena, which is impossible without the implementation of the regional energy, transport, communication and trade projects. 

Addressing the summit participants, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted today the serious prospects were opened up in the energy sector in the region that allow creating the comprehensive pipeline infrastructure for exporting the energy from Central Asia to the markets of South Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. 

The pipelines from Turkmenistan to Iran and China, as well as the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, which was launched in recent years, vividly prove the success and viability of such plans that are designed to offer a powerful impetus to the economic development of the region, to address of vital social issues, to promote peace and stability in the region. 

According to the Turkmen leader, the cooperation in the transport and communication sphere is no less significant. Today, there are wide opportunities for optimizing the transport network along the North-South and West-East routes with use of road, rail and sea traffic. These projects can connect the vast areas from the Pacific to the Caspian and Black Seas, from the north of the European continent to the Indian Ocean. 

The Turkmen leader notes that Turkmenistan is ready for the constructive discussions and development of joint plans in this area. 

Moreover, the Turkmen leader focused on the water diplomacy tasks. In this context, it is emphasized that Turkmenistan that has chaired the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea since 2017, was actively working in the field of ecology and rational water use in Central Asia, given their colossal influence on the social and economic development of the states of the region. In this context, it is necessary to strengthen cooperation between our countries on improving the environmental situation in the Aral Sea area, the rational use of water resources and ensuring the high level of environmental protection in this region. 

In Central Asia, water issues stand as a significant factor of the regional processes. Therefore, the consensus is the only acceptable platform for effective cooperation, including the provision of the environmental and food security, creation of the integrated system of sustainable energy, adaptation to climate change. 

In his message, the President of Turkmenistan addressed the best wishes to the leaders of the countries in the region, and the well-being and prosperity to the fraternal peoples. The Turkmen leader noted that the rich long-term experience of cooperation between our countries would further promote the expansion and deepening of good-neighborly, friendly mutually beneficial relations in Central Asia. 

The issues touched upon in the Turkmen leader's address were also reflected during the meeting between President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and Chairman of the Committee on Legislation and Regulations of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov. 

Conveying the greetings to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the Kazakh leader emphasized the Turkmen leader’s great contribution to strengthening the cooperation between the Central Asian countries, underlining that Kazakhstan always considered Turkmenistan as the most important strategic partner. 

It was also noted that the new opportunities for cooperation opened between the fraternal peoples of the region today. In particular, there is an impressive potential for the development of the trade and economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation and inter-parliamentary relations. 

During the meeting, it was underlined that in recent years Turkmenistan has been implementing a number of large-scale regional projects, paying partucular importance to the development of good-neighborly relations with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Our country's initiatives are always based on the principles of mutually beneficial, equitable cooperation and are aimed at the successful implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.