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Turkmen wrestler wins bronze at the World Championships
26.08.2026Turkmen freestyle wrestler Alp Arslan Begenjov won a bronze medal at the U20 World Junior Championships in Bratislava (Slovakia). A third-year student at the Turkmen State Institute of Finance competed in the 86 kg weight category, in which 25 athletes vied for medals, according to the news agency ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. Begenjov contested five bouts and secured four victories. In his first three bouts, he defeated Bolati Na Ertai of China 10–0, Yahia Eliwa of Egypt 16–5 and Mahammad Abaszada of Azerbaijan 14–1. In the semi-final, the Turkmen athlete lost to Russia’s Ahmad Mukutov 4–8. In the bronze medal match, Begenjov defeated Turkey’s Sefa Cesur 9–2. The world champion was the American Aeoden Sinclair, who defeated Ahmad Mukutov 8–4 in the final. The second bronze medal in the under-86kg category was won by the Japanese athlete Natsura Okazawa. After the medal ceremony, Begenjov thanked the fans for their support.
A ‘Central Asia–China’ cooperation centre was unveiled in Ashgabat
26.08.2026A presentation on the ‘Central Asia–China’ Centre for Educational Exchange and Cooperation took place at the Magtymguly Turkmen State University. This was reported by IIC of Turkmenistan. The event took place as part of a visit to Turkmenistan by a delegation from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China, led by Erkin Tuniyaz, Chairman of the regional People’s Government and Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee. The presentation was attended by the leadership of Turkmen State University, rectors and vice-rectors of Turkmenistan’s leading universities, representatives of educational and medical institutions in Xinjiang, and the Chinese Ambassador to Turkmenistan. The parties discussed the development of cooperation in the fields of science and education, including the teaching of Chinese at Turkmen universities, the expansion of academic exchanges and the organisation of joint internships. The guests also viewed an exhibition of decorative and applied arts, a display of the new centre, and museum exhibits at Turkmen State University. The event concluded with the Chinese delegation presenting educational and scientific literature to Turkmen universities.
Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties
26.08.2026On 25 August, a telephone conversation took place between the National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. This was reported by AsmanNews. The parties noted the high level of Turkmen-Kazakh relations and congratulated one another on important events. Hero Arkadag congratulated Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the first elections to the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan, noting their significance for the country and the reforms being carried out. The President of Kazakhstan thanked the National Leader of the Turkmen people for his congratulations and spoke highly of Turkmenistan’s support. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made a special mention of the work carried out by the Turkmen observers during the elections. During the conversation, the parties discussed the development of bilateral cooperation in the political, diplomatic, trade, economic, cultural, humanitarian and other spheres. The importance of regular dialogue at the highest level and the work of the inter-governmental commission and relevant working groups was emphasised. Particular attention was paid to cooperation on international and regional platforms. Hero Arkadag thanked Kazakhstan for its support for Turkmenistan’s neutral foreign policy and the country’s initiatives within the United Nations. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted the dynamic development of strategic cooperation. The President of Kazakhstan emphasised the significance of the state visit by the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, to Kazakhstan last November and the meeting with Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in Ashgabat in December. The parties also discussed the upcoming international events in the ‘Awaza’ National Tourist Zone on 7–9 October. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev confirmed his participation in the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the CIS, and the Caspian Environmental Summit. The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan also emphasised that he looks forward to the participation of the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, in the Aqaba Process meeting on ‘Security in the Sphere of Artificial Intelligence’, which will take place in early November in Astana. At the conclusion of the conversation, the parties expressed their readiness to further strengthen the traditionally friendly relations between the two countries and wished the peoples of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan peace, well-being and prosperity.
The President of Turkmenistan has sent a message of congratulations to the President of Serbia
26.08.2026The President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, has congratulated the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, and the people of Serbia on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Serbia. This was reported by the TDH news agency. The Head of State highlighted the development of bilateral ties based on mutual respect and equality. The President of Turkmenistan emphasised Turkmenistan’s interest in further expanding cooperation and expressed his confidence that it would develop in the interests of both nations. Serdar Berdimuhamedov wished Aleksandar Vučić good health, happiness and well-being, and the people of Serbia peace, progress and prosperity.
Turkmenistan and Pakistan discussed the development of cooperation in the tourism sector
26.08.2026On 20 August, A. Movlamov, Ambassador of Turkmenistan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, met with Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, Adviser and National Coordinator for Tourism to the Prime Minister of Pakistan and Chief Executive Officer of The Centaurus Group. The meeting took place at Centaurus’s head office, according to the press office of the Turkmen diplomatic mission. The parties discussed the development of bilateral cooperation in the field of tourism, as well as cultural and humanitarian ties. The Turkmen side provided information on events being held as part of the year dedicated to national horse breeding and Ahal-Teke horses. It was noted that the world’s first Ahal-Teke Horse Championship will take place in the Netherlands from 4 to 6 September. The Pakistani side expressed interest in developing cooperation between the relevant institutions of the two countries in the field of equestrian sport, including joint events, the exchange of experience and the expansion of professional contacts. Following the meeting, the parties reaffirmed their readiness to implement joint initiatives in the sporting, cultural and humanitarian spheres.
Students and graduates from Turkmenistan can undertake an internship at NVIDIA
26.08.2026NVIDIA has opened applications for its Early Talent early-career development programmes for undergraduates, postgraduates and recent university graduates, including those from Turkmenistan. This was reported by IIC of Turkmenistan. The programmes cover artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, software and hardware engineering, computer graphics and high-performance computing. Participants can apply for internships for undergraduate and postgraduate students, the 12-week Ignite summer programme for first-year students, programmes for PhD holders and New College Graduate roles for early-career professionals. Internships run throughout the year and last for at least 12 weeks. Recruitment takes place as vacancies arise, so candidates are advised to monitor opportunities on NVIDIA’s official careers portal. To apply, candidates must submit a CV in English detailing their technical experience, programming skills, academic projects and links to their portfolio.
The Turkmenistan National Youth Team is preparing for the U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers
26.08.2026The Turkmenistan U-20 national team, led by head coach Didar Hajiyev, is holding a training camp in Thailand as part of its preparations for the qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup. The qualifiers will begin on 31 August and will feature 31 national teams divided into eight groups, according to IIC of Turkmenistan. Places in the final stage of the tournament, which will take place in Hangzhou, China, from 24 March to 10 April 2027, will be secured by the group winners and the seven best runners-up. The Turkmenistan national team will play in Group F, with matches to be hosted by the city of Chonburi. In the group stage, the team will face their counterparts from Iraq (31 August), Thailand (3 September) and the UAE (6 September). The final stage of the national team’s preparations was their participation in the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA-2026) tournament in Tajikistan in May, where the Turkmen players finished fourth.
A delegation from China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region has arrived in Turkmenistan on a visit
26.08.2026A delegation from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of China, led by Erkin Tuniyaz, Deputy Secretary of the region’s Communist Party of China Committee and Chairman of the XUAR People’s Government, has arrived in Turkmenistan on a visit. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. The programme for the visit includes negotiations on expanding trade and economic cooperation and implementing joint projects in the fields of agriculture, science, education and technology. As part of the visit, the delegation visited the International Science and Technology Park of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, where they familiarised themselves with the work of specialist laboratories and the research carried out by Turkmen scientists in the fields of physical, chemical, biological, genetic and technical research. The delegation also met with the leadership of the Ashgabat City Administration, where they discussed the expansion of mutually beneficial partnerships. In the afternoon, negotiations were held with representatives of Turkmenistan’s agricultural sector — the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the State Concern ‘Türkmenpagta’ — as well as with the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers responsible for the agricultural sector. The parties discussed the current state and prospects of trade, economic and agricultural cooperation. The Turkmen side emphasised the priority of attracting investment, introducing innovations and foreign expertise to modernise the agricultural sector, as well as developing transport and logistics services and organising joint business forums and exhibitions. Representatives of the XUAR supported these proposals and put forward counter-initiatives. Separately, the parties discussed cultural and humanitarian cooperation — student and academic exchanges, the organisation of internships for young researchers, as well as cooperation in the field of environmental protection and water-saving technologies in the agricultural sector. Given the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region’s experience in the rational use of land and water resources and the fight against desertification, the Turkmen side expressed its readiness to engage in joint research programmes. Following the negotiations, the parties expressed their confidence that the visit would give impetus to the development of Turkmen-Chinese relations. The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region delegation’s visit is continuing.
A Turkmen university has studied Finland’s experience of digital transformation
26.08.2026A delegation from Turkmenistan, comprising staff from the International University for the Humanities and Development (IUHD), undertook a working visit to Helsinki as part of the European Union’s regional project ‘Connectivity for Central Asia’ (C4CA). This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. The programme for the visit was organised by Laurea University of Applied Sciences and the Finnish Institute of Public Administration (HAUS). It focused on studying Finland’s experience of digital transformation, the development of IT infrastructure and the implementation of innovative solutions in public administration and higher education systems. During the trip, the leadership of the Turkmen university held negotiations with European partners and consolidated the agreements reached following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in June 2026. The parties agreed on the practical implementation of part of the project at the IUHD, which will enable international expertise to be integrated into the domestic educational environment. The initiative is in line with the objectives of Turkmenistan’s State Programme for the Development of the Digital Economy for 2026–2028 and is aimed at training qualified specialists and strengthening academic ties.
A professor from Mexico delivered training courses for university lecturers in Turkmenistan
26.08.2026Kenneth Richter, a professor at the University of Guanajuato (Mexico), led a two-week professional development programme for lecturers at higher education institutions in Turkmenistan. During his visit, he worked in Ashgabat and Turkmenabat, according to the news agency Orient. The 20-hour course was organised for lecturers from the Oguz Han University of Engineering and Technology and the Seyitnazar Seydi State Pedagogical Institute. The programme focused on modern methods of teaching English and communicative practices. Professor K. Richter also held open meetings with students and members of the public. Participants discussed academic and institutional practices in Latin and North America. The visit marked the first instance of direct academic cooperation between the University of Guanajuato and higher education institutions in Turkmenistan.
Al-Biruni’s legacy continues to be studied a thousand years on
25.08.2026UNESCO has described Abu Rayhan Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Biruni as a ‘universal genius’ who lived in Central Asia a thousand years ago. The scholar was born on 4 September 973 in the town of Kas in ancient Khwarezm. He studied astronomy, mathematics, geography, history, physics, mineralogy, pharmacology and other sciences. This is reported by Arzuw.news, citing the newspaper ‘Neutral Turkmenistan’. Al-Biruni’s teacher was the mathematician and astronomer Abu Nasr Mansur ibn Iraq. The scholar is credited with around 180 works, some of which have survived to this day. Among the best known are ‘Chronology of Ancient Nations’, ‘India’, ‘The Canon of Mas’ud’, ‘The Book of Precious Stones’ and ‘Pharmacognosy’. ‘The Canon of Mas’ud’ contains astronomical and mathematical calculations, tables and information on the motion of celestial bodies. Using geometric methods and observations, al-Biruni calculated the radius of the Earth, arriving at a value close to the modern one. In his work ‘India’, the scholar explored the mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, religion, geography and culture of India. To work with primary sources, he learnt Sanskrit. Pharmacology occupies a significant place in al-Biruni’s legacy. In ‘Kitab al-Saydana fi al-Tibb’, he systematised information on medicinal substances, plants and minerals, and regarded pharmacy as an independent field of knowledge. Today, a lunar crater and an asteroid bear al-Biruni’s name. In 1974, UNESCO’s magazine ‘Courier’ dedicated a special issue to the scholar. His scientific legacy continues to be studied by researchers.
Turkmenistan and China are developing their partnership in the agricultural sector
25.08.2026A Turkmen-Chinese meeting dedicated to the development of cooperation in the agricultural sector took place in Ashgabat. The event took place as part of a visit by a delegation from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of the People’s Republic of China, led by Erkin Tuniyaz, Chairman of the XUAR People’s Government, reports IIC of Turkmenistan. The parties discussed digitalisation and the introduction of innovations in the agri-food sector, cotton cultivation and raw material processing, seed production and plant breeding, as well as environmental and water conservation issues. The negotiations were attended by heads of relevant ministries and enterprises from Turkmenistan, representatives of the XUAR’s agricultural authorities, scientists from the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and executives from Chinese companies specialising in agricultural machinery, seed production and agricultural technologies. The Chinese companies expressed an interest in joint investment and technology projects, as well as in the supply of agricultural machinery and equipment. The parties confirmed their readiness to implement the agreements reached and to continue exchanging visits by specialists and agricultural experts.
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