Consultative Meeting of the Heads of States of Central Asia was held in Turkmenistan
Today, on the 6th of August 2021, the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of States of Central Asia was held in the National Tourist Zone “Avaza”. The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Central Asia, the Head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia Natalia Gherman also took part in the session.
The Presidents of Central Asian states arrived to Turkmenistan to participate to this conference in the framework of which a number of parallel events of economic and cultural scope were held, including the Economic Forum of the Central Asian states, International Exhibition of the Products of Central Asian countries, Women’s Dialogue of the States of Central Asia, as well as the International Festival of the National Cuisines of the region’s countries.
The Consultative Meeting of the Heads of States of Central Asia was held in the Congress Hall of the National Tourist Zone “Avaza”. The event was preceded by the bilateral meetings of the heads of states. Then, the joint photographing ceremony of the Presidents of five Central Asian states took place.
In his opening speech, the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed gratitude to his colleagues for accepting the invitation to visit Turkmenistan for participation to the Consultative Meeting aimed at further strengthening of regional cooperation, provision of conditions for more active and oriented steps in this regard, which is expected to become a strong mobilizing factor for effective and constructive participation of the Central Asian region to the continental and global affairs.
The parties considered the key aspects of developing political, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian collaboration between the countries of the region. A constructive exchange of views on the issues of regional stability was held. The Presidents discussed the pressing issues of regional cooperation, exchanged opinions on current topics of international development. They also agreed to accelerate the external policy cooperation, including through the regular five-sided meetings between the MFAs of the regions’ countries.
During the session, the Presidents discussed the issues related to the implementation of resolutions adopted at the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of States of Central Asia that was held in Tashkent on November 29, 2019. The parties noted the importance of the region from the geopolitical and geo-economic perspectives and underlined the high level of mutual understanding, trust and mutual respect between the countries that are united by century’s long historical, spiritual and cultural ties. It was emphasized that all of this is positively affecting not only the region, but the Eurasia in general.
Special attention was paid to the establishment of favorable conditions for the partnership in the energy sphere, expansion of cooperation between the region’s countries in transport-communications field, in particular through the maintenance of effective functioning of available and by forming new transport corridors. In his speech, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said, “based on the UN documents, we are forming in Central Asia favorable political-legal and economic conditions for safe, sustainable partnership, which is oriented at the fulfillment of internal regional demand for energy carriers, as well as directed at the entrance to the world markets via the international transit corridors”.
The Presidents exchanged views on the development of trade ties, increase of export and import operations. The agreements were reached on the diversification of mutual trade turnover and industrial cooperation.
One of the main constituents of the agenda of the meeting was the consolidation of efforts of the region’s countries on countering the pandemic. The Presidents agreed to facilitate the organization and encourage joint research in the area of studying the nature of new type infections, as well as the application of new methods of treatment and prevention of communicable diseases.
Upon the outcomes of the meeting, the Joint Statement of the Heads of States of Central Asia was adopted.
Then, an official ceremony of awarding the Honorable Sign of the Heads of States of Central Asia was held. In accordance with the decision of the Presidents of the countries of Central Asia adopted at the current Consultative Meeting, the Honorable Sign was awarded to the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon for outstanding achievements in the development of friendship, good-neighborliness, mutual understanding and cooperation between the states of Central Asia, as well as for strengthening peace and security in the region, promotion of joint interests and initiatives of the region’s countries within the international community. With the applauses of the audience, the Honorable Sign was awarded by the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
Then the press conference of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Central Asia, the Head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia Natalia Gherman took place upon the outcomes of the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of States of Central Asia.
The same day, the Presidents visited the International Exhibition of the Products of Central Asian countries and the International Festival of the National Cuisines of the region’s countries.
In the end of the day, the heads of states took part in the festive concert of the art and culture workers of the countries of Central Asia, as well as in the official dinner.
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On November 1, 2023, a business forum of young entrepreneurs was held in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan within the framework of the 16th Cooperation Forum “Central Asia-Republic of Korea”.
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On October 31, 2023, a meeting was held between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea Park Jin, who is in Ashgabat on an official visit.
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The sides noted that Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea attach special importance to the further development of the Turkmen-Korean partnership, which is traditionally based on the principles of long-term friendship, trust and mutual understanding. At the same time, the development of contacts at the highest level plays a special role in expanding and strengthening bilateral ties.
In this context, R.Meredov noted that on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the President of the Republic of Korea Yoon Suk Yeol held constructive negotiations, during which they emphasized the high level of interstate partnership, and also exchanged views on current regional and the international agenda.
The ministers expressed a common opinion on strengthening inter-parliamentary ties. In this connection, special attention was paid to the official visits of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Seoul in November 2022 and the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Kim Jin-pyo to Ashgabat in July of this year, which became landmark events in the political life of the two states
The parties stated successful interaction within international structures, primarily at the UN, and noted the high level of mutual support in matters of ensuring peace, stability and sustainable development.
During the negotiations, it was emphasized that the economic partnership between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea is strategic, sustainable and long-term.
In this regard, an exchange of views took place on priority areas of trade and economic cooperation. The discussions included projects for the creation of an industrial cluster in the city of Arkadag, projects for the construction of gas chemical plants, the purchase of electric vehicles and electric buses, investments in the introduction of the latest digital, information-communication and other technologies in the construction of “smart cities”, the use of methods and technologies for desalination of sea water and innovations in rational use of water resources, diversification of financing, studying Korean experience in green and hydrogen energy, creating modern high-tech industries focused on the production of competitive products.
In this context, the activities of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Korean Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation were noted as an effective tool for expanding trade and economic relations between our countries.
In addition, the areas of education, science, the study of the Korean language, healthcare and medicine are highlighted as promising areas of cultural and humanitarian ties.
While speaking about the significance of cultural exchanges, in particular about the successful holding of the Days of Culture of Turkmenistan in Korea in March this year together with the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the birth of the classical poet Magtymguly Fragi, the parties noted the importance of organizing at the proper level the Korean Culture Week in November 2023 in Ashgabat.
Following the meeting of ministers, the signing ceremony of the following bilateral documents took place:
- «Memorandum of understanding among the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan and the School of Korean Medicine of the Pusan National University of the Republic of Korea and the National Institute for the Development of Korean Medicine of the Republic of Korea»;
- «Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of Korea»;
- «Cooperation program for 2024-2025 between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea».
Also on this day, a "Memorandum of understanding between the Turkmen State Medical University named after Myrat Garryev and the Korea University College of Medicine» was signed.
