Meeting of the National Leader of the Turkmen People, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan with the Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Japan

The National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met with the Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan Akihisa Nagashima today.

Expressing gratitude for the time allocated for the meeting, the guest underlined Japan's special attention to building up multifaceted cooperation with Turkmenistan and, taking the opportunity, conveyed to Hero Arkadag words of greetings and best wishes from Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

Having cordially welcomed the Special Advisor of the Head of the Japanese Government, the National Leader of the Turkmen people addressed his greetings to Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

Hero Arkadag expressed confidence that the current visit of Mr. Akihisa Nagashima would make it possible to expand and substantially enrich the relations between Turkmenistan and Japan, and wished success in the upcoming negotiations within the framework of his stay in our country.

Chairman of Halk Maslakhaty also noted that on Turkmenistan's initiative, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2025 the International Year of Peace and Trust and expressed gratitude to Japan for its support. In this context, the National Leader of the Turkmen people said that a high-level international forum would be held in the International Year of Peace and Trust, marked by the 30th anniversary of the country's neutrality, and invited the Japanese side to participate in it.

The guest, in turn, stressing the great importance of mutual visits in the context of building up the interstate dialogue, shared pleasant memories of the visits of the National Leader of the Turkmen people to Japan.

In continuation of the meeting, the sides noted the active dynamics of friendly Turkmen-Japanese relations in political and diplomatic, trade-economic, social, cultural-humanitarian and other spheres. In particular, the sides stressed the consistent, stable and long-term nature of bilateral economic interaction, in the maintenance of which the Turkmen-Japanese Committee on Economic Cooperation plays a significant role. As is known, the 15th meeting of the Committee was held in Turkmenistan in December last year, when new vectors for expanding bilateral partnership were set.

Hero Arkadag noted the special attention paid in our country to the diversification of export routes for ‘blue fuel’ and the development of a specialised processing industry, taking into account the enormous natural gas reserves on its territory.

As you know, major Japanese companies have been working fruitfully in the gas and chemical industries of our country for many years. Goods produced at the production facilities built jointly with Japanese partners occupy a large niche in Turkmenistan's exports: they are in growing demand in the domestic market and abroad.

The polymer plant in Kiyanly, urea plant in Garabogaz, petrol from natural gas plant in Akhal province and Maryazot plant were mentioned among the successfully completed such projects.

Mr Akihisa Nagashima expressed his sincere gratitude to the National Leader of the Turkmen people and President Serdar Berdimuhamedov for providing favourable conditions for constructive work of commercial organisations in Japan.

During the meeting, noting that a number of major projects are being implemented in Turkmenistan jointly with Japanese companies, Hero Arkadag reaffirmed our country's readiness to build up the targeted partnership.

In April this year, the World Exhibition EXPO 2025 will be held in Osaka, Japan, and Turkmenistan is interested in participating in it: relevant measures are currently being taken by the specially created Organising Committee.

Stressing the importance of cooperation between our countries in bilateral and multilateral formats, Hero Arkadag took the opportunity to wish success in holding the first Summit of the Central Asia + Japan Dialogue and the World Exhibition EXPO 2025.

During the meeting, the great role of the cultural and humanitarian dialogue in strengthening interstate ties, as well as in bringing peoples closer and mutually enriching their cultures was noted.

In this regard, the National Leader of the Turkmen people emphasised partnership in the field of education. The Oguz Khan University of Engineering and Technology has been teaching Japanese students. Japanese language is taught at the Oguz Khan University of Engineering and Technology, and it is necessary to continue constructive targeted cooperation, as well as to organise mutual Days of Culture, Hero Arkadag said.

Hero-Arkadag reaffirmed our country's readiness to intensify and substantially enrich bilateral relations.

At the end of the meeting, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan Akihisa Nagashima expressed confidence in consistent strengthening of constructive Turkmen-Japanese cooperation in the interests of friendly peoples and exchanged best wishes.