The National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, arrived in the Republic of Azerbaijan on a visit. This was reported by the state news agency TDH. Hero Arkadag was seen off at Ashgabat International Airport by officials of the country. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's plane landed at Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku. The visit reflects Turkmenistan's commitment to a foreign policy based on peace and good neighbourliness. Under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, such ties with neighbouring states are considered a priority. Relations between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan are developing dynamically and are strategic in nature. The visit of Hero Arkadag underscores the high level of bilateral cooperation.
On 15 July, a working meeting was held at the International Information Centre of Turkmenistan between Annasahet Kakayev, Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Television, Radio Broadcasting and Cinematography, and Kanishka Singh, First Secretary of the Embassy of India. This was reported by the online publication AsmanNews. During the talks, the parties paid special attention to preparations for the upcoming cultural festival ‘WAVES Bazaar,’ scheduled for the end of July in Ashgabat. The prospects for expanding cooperation in the media sphere were discussed, including regular screenings of Indian films on Turkmen television, the creation of joint music programmes on radio and the implementation of film projects involving creative teams from both countries. Considerable attention was paid to the development of partnership in the digital space, including content exchange and cooperation in the field of new media. The participants of the meeting emphasised the importance of cultural dialogue as an effective tool for strengthening mutual understanding between the peoples of Turkmenistan and India. The parties expressed satisfaction with the progress of the negotiations and confirmed their intention to continue working to expand humanitarian cooperation. The meeting took place in a constructive and friendly atmosphere, demonstrating mutual interest in developing cultural ties.
In the 2025 academic year, Turkmenistan's universities offered 297 specialised programmes, 176 bachelor's programmes and 24 master's programmes. This was reported by the news resource Turkmenportal with reference to the newspaper ‘Turkmenistan’. At the end of 2024, approximately 10,000 specialists received diplomas upon completion of their studies, over 4,900 bachelor's degree graduates and about 550 master's degree graduates. Among the key innovations is the first enrolment of bachelor's students at the Seyitnazar Seydi Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute, the Turkmen State Institute of Economics and Management, and the Turkmen Institute of Engineering and Transport Communications. Master's programmes were launched in 2025 at the S.A. Niyazov Turkmen Agricultural University, the Institute of International Relations of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Turkmen State Institute of Culture, which was an important step in expanding academic opportunities for students.
From 1 to 21 July, students from the Institute of Telecommunications and Informatics of Turkmenistan are participating in a summer internship at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (Romania) as part of the Erasmus+ programme. This was reported by Orient. The internship programme includes practical training in the university's specialised laboratories, introductory visits to leading IT companies in the region, and the study of modern technologies and advanced industry solutions. Participation in the internship helps strengthen academic and professional ties between young specialists and teachers from both countries, opening up new opportunities for cooperation. This initiative is aimed at developing international educational exchanges, improving the quality of training for specialists in the field of information and communication technologies, and strengthening partnerships between educational institutions in Turkmenistan and Romania.
A delegation from the Ministry of Industry and Construction of Turkmenistan visited the headquarters of the Chinese company ‘Tongfang Co., Ltd.’ in Beijing. This was reported by the news agency Orient. The visit was a follow-up to agreements reached at the recent ‘China – Central Asia’ summit and is aimed at developing cooperation in the field of digital technologies and smart energy. The Turkmen side familiarised itself with Tongfang's developments in the field of ‘smart cities’ and clean energy. Company representatives emphasised their readiness to cooperate with Turkmenistan in these areas. Particular attention was paid to the exchange of experience and the development of joint projects, taking into account Turkmenistan's desire to modernise its energy structure and expand its digital infrastructure. During the meeting, the parties expressed mutual interest in strategic partnership and the development of mutually beneficial initiatives.
The China Center for International People-to-People Exchange under the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, in collaboration with the editorial board of the magazine ‘Class and Beyond’, has announced that it will hold an international exhibition entitled “2025 ‘China-Europe Cultural Train’ World’s Most Beautiful Children’s Painting Exhibition”. Young talents from Turkmenistan are invited to participate. This was reported by IIC of Turkmenistan. The project will be part of a large-scale initiative called ‘China-Europe Humanitarian Express’ and will be implemented using the international logistics route of the ‘China-Europe’ train. Its aim is to unite the cultures of different countries through the art and creativity of children aged 3 to 18. Participants are invited to submit their artwork — paintings, calligraphy, design, sculpture and photography — on the themes: ‘China-Europe Train’, ‘Silk Road Impressions’, ‘Civilization Dialogue’ and ‘Our Shared Home’. The best works will be included in the permanent exhibition of the project's digital cloud exhibition hall. In addition, the authors of outstanding works will have the opportunity to take part in an international tour along the China-Europe train route, where they will be able to present their works to a wide audience.
From 24 June to 11 July, UNICEF conducted training sessions in Ashgabat and all velayats of Turkmenistan aimed at promoting respectful and non-discriminatory terminology in the field of mental health. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. The events were part of a regional project to reduce stigma surrounding mental disorders, implemented in Central Asian countries and Belarus. More than 200 healthcare workers took part in the training. The training helped them better understand how language affects perceptions of mental health and patient trust. Participants analysed stigmatising expressions, developed alternative wording, role-played situations and discussed methods for effective communication with patients and communities. Promoting inclusive language is an important step towards creating a more empathetic and accessible mental health care system. UNICEF will continue to support Turkmenistan's efforts in this area, with a particular focus on children, adolescents and vulnerable groups.
A Turkmen delegation is participating in a regional training course entitled ‘Towards Respectful Care: Overcoming Gender Bias in Medical Practice,’ which is being held on 15-16 July in Almaty. The event is organised as part of the EU-supported CADAP 7 programme, according to the news website Turkmenportal. The training aims to improve the skills of healthcare workers and civil society representatives in providing gender-sensitive and trauma-informed care to women who use synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances (NPS). The delegation includes representatives of the Ministry of Healthcare and Medical Industry, relevant universities and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Turkmenistan. Participants are discussing ways to overcome stigma in medicine, develop an empathetic and professional approach to patients, and improve cross-sectoral cooperation. Particular attention is being paid to the role of men in creating a safe and respectful medical environment. The initiative is being implemented in support of Turkmenistan's national priorities for the development of an inclusive health care system.
Turkmenistan has officially confirmed its participation in the III CIS Games in Azerbaijan, registering 170 athletes. This was reported by the news agency Orient. Thus, the number of participating countries has increased to eight, including Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. A total of about 1,840 athletes and 2,666 delegates will attend the Games. Registration for the first stage is open only to CIS countries, with delegations from other countries joining later. As a result, about 5,500 delegations from 23 countries are expected to attend. The III CIS Games will be held from 28 September to 8 October in seven cities of Azerbaijan: Ganja, Yevlakh, Mingachevir, Gabala, Sheki, Goygol and Khankendi. The event aims to strengthen friendship and unity among the youth of the region and is considered one of the most significant sporting events.
An official event marking Bastille Day was held in Ashgabat, organised by the French Embassy, according to Arzuw.news. French Ambassador to Turkmenistan Philippe Merlin in his speech supported Turkmenistan's initiative to declare 2025 the International Year of Peace and Trust and stressed the importance of the visit of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to France on 5 May 2025. The diplomat highlighted promising areas of cooperation, including telecommunications, cybersecurity, urban planning, water management and education. Joint projects are being implemented in partnership with French companies THALES, Airbus, SUEZ, CARPITech and Bouygues. Turkmenistan's Minister of Education Jumamyrat Gurbangeldiyev congratulated the French on the holiday and noted that French is taught in more than 25 schools and will be included in the programme of the International University for the Humanities and Development starting in the new academic year. The parties signed a roadmap for cooperation for 2025–2026. The cultural part of the event included a fashion show by Turkmen designer Govher Gouvernet, musical performances and a video presentation on French archaeological and scientific missions in Turkmenistan.
A commemorative ceremony and photo exhibition dedicated to the Day of Democracy and National Unity of the Republic of Turkey was held in Ashgabat, at the Cultural Centre of the Turkish Embassy in Turkmenistan. This was reported by the online news resource TerraNews. The event was timed to coincide with the events of 15 July 2016 in Ankara and Istanbul, when hundreds of Turkish citizens were killed as a result of the escalation of the political situation. In the same year, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan established this day in memory of national heroes. The ceremony began with a minute of silence, followed by a documentary film and an exhibition of photographs reflecting the historical confrontation of the Turkish people. Turkish Ambassador to Turkmenistan Ahmet Demirok noted the importance of these events as a lesson for the international community and expressed gratitude to Turkmenistan for its support and solidarity.
On 15 July, Turkmenistan's Foreign Affairs Minister Rashid Meredov had a phone talk with Rwanda's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Olivier Nduhungireha. This was reported by the press service of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan. The parties discussed key aspects of bilateral cooperation, as well as issues related to preparations for the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC 3). The parties also emphasised that the establishment of diplomatic relations on 14 July 2025 was an important step towards strengthening mutual trust and expanding cooperation between the two countries.