President of Turkmenistan Received Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Today, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov received Toshimitsu Motegi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, who arrived in our country with a visit.

Expressing his gratitude to the Head of State for the time devoted to the meeting and for the hospitality extended to him, Toshimitsu Motegi noted that Japan attaches great importance to the development of mutually beneficial relations with Turkmenistan, considering it a reliable partner. Taking this opportunity, he conveyed to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Hero-Arkadag warm greetings from His Majesty the Emperor of Japan Naruhito and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan also expressed his gratitude to Hero-Arkadag Serdar for the condolences extended in connection with the earthquake that occurred in Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture.

Addressing his best wishes in return to the leadership of Japan, the Head of State expressed confidence that Toshimitsu Motegi’s visit to our country would become an important step toward expanding bilateral cooperation.

As noted during the meeting, Turkmenistan attaches particular importance to the further development of relations with Japan in the Asia-Pacific region. The partnership between our countries is long-term and strategic in nature, while interstate dialogue is consistently developing on the basis of the principles of equality, mutual respect and trust.

At present, active Turkmen-Japanese cooperation is being carried out not only in a bilateral format, but also within the framework of authoritative international organizations, first and foremost the United Nations.

In this context, the Head of State emphasized the successful interaction within the framework of the “Central Asia–Japan” Dialogue, which for many years has served as an effective mechanism for coordinating actions in the region.

The President of Turkmenistan noted that last year he paid a working visit to Japan to participate in the first Summit of the “Central Asia–Japan” Dialogue, during which high-level negotiations were held and important agreements were reached. He emphasized that he warmly recalls his meetings with His Majesty Emperor Naruhito of Japan and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

The head of the foreign policy agency of the friendly country stated that the visits of the Head of State to Japan had provided a powerful impetus for the further development of and enrichment with new content of Japanese-Turkmen cooperation.

During the meeting, the consistent development of interparliamentary relations between the two countries was also noted with satisfaction. Particular attention was paid to the importance of the work of the Turkmen-Japanese Interparliamentary Friendship Group, which is intended to facilitate the exchange of experience in the legislative sphere, as well as the organization of bilateral meetings and consultations.

As noted, interstate relations currently cover a wide range of areas, including political-diplomatic, trade-economic, cultural-humanitarian and other fields.

In this regard, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized that the trade and economic sphere is one of the priority areas of bilateral partnership. An important role in its development is assigned to the Turkmen-Japanese Committee for Economic Cooperation.

Noting that Turkmenistan has accumulated positive experience of many years of cooperation in the gas industry and chemical industry with such major Japanese companies as Itochu Corporation, Toyo Engineering Corporation and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., with their participation, major industrial facilities have been constructed in our country. The Head of State emphasized that there are broad opportunities for Japanese companies in these areas.

The cultural and humanitarian sphere also occupies an important place in strengthening interstate relations, bringing peoples closer together and mutually enriching cultures. At present, particular attention is being paid to the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between Turkmenistan and Japan in the field of culture. The holding of reciprocal Days of Culture, exhibitions and other cultural events is a vivid confirmation of this.

At the conclusion of the meeting, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Toshimitsu Motegi expressed confidence in the further strengthening of productive interstate cooperation and exchanged best wishes.

A meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan between Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov and the delegation of Japan headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi.

During the meeting, the sides discussed the current state and prospects for the development of Turkmen-Japanese relations in the political-diplomatic, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian spheres.

It was emphasized that regular high-level meetings provide the main impetus for the development of interstate relations. In this context, the importance of the visits of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Hero-Arkadag and the President of Turkmenistan to Japan was emphasized.

Following the conclusion of the negotiations, a signing ceremony was held for the Programme of Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for 2027–2029.