A two-day training seminar was held at the UN building in Ashgabat, organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Representation in Turkmenistan with the participation of international migration experts. This was reported by the press service of the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan. The event brought together representatives of several key government agencies, including officials from the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan, for a roundtable discussion. As part of the program, participants reviewed modern approaches to preventing irregular migration in the region and examined international experience in integrated and humanitarian border management. Particular attention was paid to the introduction of digital solutions, information technologies, and innovative IT platforms in the migration sector. The participation of the Service’s representatives in international conferences, forums, and specialized humanitarian events is regarded as evidence of Turkmenistan’s consistent migration policy and its implementation of the state's humanitarian initiatives.
On 13 June, the British Embassy in Turkmenistan hosted a ceremonial reception at the Ashgabat Golf Club to mark the official birthday of King Charles III. This was reported by the news website Asmannews. The tradition of celebrating the monarch’s birthday separately from the actual date dates back to the 18th century and is linked to King George II’s decision to move the festivities to the summer months in order to hold outdoor events. Today, similar receptions are organized by British diplomatic missions around the world. The event brought together representatives of the Turkmen government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the diplomatic corps, international organizations, business circles, academia, culture, and the media. Guests were welcomed by the British Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Stephen Conlon, and his wife. Turkmenistan’s Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Khojamyrat Geldimyradov, delivered a welcoming speech, conveying congratulations to the British side and highlighting the high level of bilateral relations. He also described the recent visit of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to the United Kingdom and his meeting with King Charles III as an important event. For his part, Ambassador Conlon emphasized the growing cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the fields of culture and education, including scholarship programs for Turkmen students in the United Kingdom.
The National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, congratulated Chinese President Xi Jinping on his birthday and extended his best wishes. This was reported by the TDH. In his message, Hero-Arkadag highlighted Xi Jinping’s contribution to the development of friendship and strategic partnership between Turkmenistan and the People's Republic of China. The National Leader of the Turkmen people emphasized that Turkmen-Chinese relations, based on trust, mutual respect, and consideration of national interests, serve as an example of mutually beneficial cooperation. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed confidence in the further strengthening and expansion of ties between the two countries. Hero-Arkadag wished Xi Jinping good health, well-being, and success in his state activities, and wished the people of the People's Republic of China peace and prosperity.
President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov congratulated President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping on his birthday and extended his best wishes. This was reported by the online news outlet AsmanNews. In his congratulatory message, the Turkmen leader highlighted China's achievements in socio-economic development, the strengthening of the country's international standing, and the improvement of the people's well-being. Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized that Turkmenistan highly values its friendly relations with the People's Republic of China and attaches great importance to the further development of bilateral strategic cooperation based on the principles of equality, mutual respect, and consideration of the interests of both sides. He expressed confidence in the continued strengthening of the Turkmen-Chinese strategic partnership and the expansion of cooperation for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries. The head of state also wished Xi Jinping good health, happiness, and success in his state activities, and wished the people of China peace, prosperity, and well-being.
The gastronomic festival “Taste Diplomacy” was held on June 13 in Minsk at the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus. The main theme of the event was the culinary traditions and cultural heritage of the peoples of the world. Diplomatic missions from more than 25 countries took part in the festival, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, Maksim Ryzhenkov, according to the news agency Orient. The program included presentations of national cuisines, tastings, chef masterclasses, and a fashion show based on traditional costumes. The Embassy of Turkmenistan presented its own exhibition, which became one of the most visited venues of the festival. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Belarus, Nazarghuly Shaguliyev, presented guests with a Turkmen dastarkhan and national dishes. As part of the presentation, participants also learned about the history and preparation methods of traditional dishes. Turkmen diplomats and diaspora representatives worked in national costumes, highlighting the country’s cultural traditions. The participation of the Turkmen diplomatic mission in the festival is connected to preparations for the 35th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s independence, which will be celebrated in 2026. In the country, this year is being held under the motto: “Independent, neutral Turkmenistan — the homeland of determined winged horses.” The festival became a platform for strengthening cultural interaction between Turkmenistan and Belarus and promoting folk traditions. The Embassy of Turkmenistan in Minsk continues its work on developing bilateral humanitarian and diplomatic relations.
The national chess team of Turkmenistan took part in the international tournament “Vladimir Dvorkovich Memorial – Aktobe Open 2026”, which was held in Aktobe as part of a training camp in Kazakhstan. This was reported by the news agency Orient. The competition brought together 210 chess players from 21 countries, including 23 international grandmasters. The tournament was played in a nine-round Swiss system and was divided into Masters and Open categories. The most successful result among Turkmen athletes was achieved by 16-year-old Myakhri Agamuradova. In the Open section, she scored 6 points out of 9, finished 15th overall, and became the best female participant. As a result, she gained 83.2 rating points and fulfilled the norm for the title of FIDE Woman FIDE Master (WFM). Positive rating progress was also shown by Jahan Rejepova (+26.8), Ogulsuray Bayrambaeva (+8.2), and Leila Shokhradova (+5.2). In the Masters category, Turkmenistan was represented by Amanmuhammet Khommadov. He increased his rating by 10.6 points and moved closer to achieving the International Master norm. The Masters tournament was won by American grandmaster Andrew Hong, while the Open section was won by Kazakh FIDE Master Alan Petukhov. The tournament in Aktobe was one of the preparation stages for the 46th World Chess Olympiad, which will take place in September in Samarkand.
The final bouts and the closing ceremony of the 14th annual Taekwondo (WT) tournament for the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Cup in Turkmenistan were held at the Martial Arts Sports Complex in the capital’s Olympic City. The competition took place on 13–14 June 2026 and was organized by the National Taekwondo Center in cooperation with the diplomatic mission of the Republic of Korea, according to the IIC. The tournament has been held since 2010. This year, more than 110 athletes participated, including children, cadets, and juniors from the capital and all five regions of the country. The competition was held in the Kyorugi (sparring) discipline. Medals were awarded across 25 weight categories in both individual and team events. The final day concluded with intense bouts, during which the athletes demonstrated their training level and competitiveness in their respective categories. As part of the closing ceremony, the importance of such tournaments in promoting a healthy lifestyle among young people and developing the country’s sports reserve was emphasized. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to Turkmenistan, Lee Won-jae, presented medals to the winners and prize-winners. Athletes also received diplomas and commemorative gifts from the organizers. Based on the results of the competition, the best teams in the overall standings were identified and awarded tournament cups.
Turkmen school students will participate in the cultural and educational project “Train of Memory.” This was reported by the Russian Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Ivan Volynkin, in an article published in the newspaper Neutral Turkmenistan on the occasion of Russia Day, according to the news website Turkmenportal. According to the diplomat, the project will involve school students from 18 countries, including Turkmenistan. The two-week journey to sites of military glory from the times of the Great Patriotic War will begin on the eve of the 85th anniversary of its outbreak. The “Train of Memory” project was initiated by the heads of the upper chambers of the parliaments of Russia and Belarus. Its goal is to preserve the historical memory of the heroism of wartime generations, develop youth dialogue, and introduce participants to the culture and traditions of different countries. This year, the route will cover eight cities in Belarus and five cities in Russia. Tenth-grade students will take part in the project.
A Turkmen-Uzbek business forum was held in the Dashoguz region with the participation of a delegation of entrepreneurs from Uzbekistan’s Khorezm region. This was reported by the press service of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan. The event was organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan and local authorities and aimed at developing trade and economic cooperation between border regions. Within the framework of the forum, bilateral meetings between business communities took place, resulting in agreements on cooperation. The Uzbek delegation also visited the Dashoguz cotton spinning mill and the private enterprise “Amantay,” where they familiarized themselves with production processes, technologies, and working conditions. The forum became another step toward strengthening business ties and expanding practical cooperation between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov has signed resolutions authorizing the state concerns “Türkmengaz” and “Türkmennebit” to conclude contracts with companies from the People’s Republic of China for the purchase of pipes for various purposes. The relevant documents were published on June 13 in Turkmenistan’s central media, AsmanNews reports. According to the resolution, the State Concern “Türkmengaz” is permitted to conclude a contract at its own expense with the company “Julong Steel Pipe Co., Ltd” (PRC) for the purchase of steel pipes in the required volume for construction works at facilities of subordinate institutions and enterprises. Another resolution instructs the State Concern “Türkmennebit” to conclude a contract with “Wuxi SP Steel Tube Manufacturing Co., Ltd.” (PRC) for the supply of casing and drilling pipes. The products are intended for drilling operations at production and exploration wells and will be purchased using the company’s own funds. The resolutions note that the contracts are aimed at fulfilling the tasks set for Turkmenistan’s oil and gas sector in the era of the Renaissance of a new epoch of a powerful state.
On June 10, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to Pakistan, Atajan Movlamov, visited the National University of Modern Languages and held a meeting with the university’s leadership. This was reported by the press service of the Turkmen diplomatic mission. The two sides discussed the current state and prospects of cooperation in the fields of education, science, and culture, with particular attention paid to the expansion of academic ties and joint projects. The importance of educational and cultural exchanges for strengthening mutual understanding between countries was emphasized, as well as the development of language training and scientific cooperation. Following the meeting, both sides confirmed their intention to develop partnerships between educational institutions of Turkmenistan and Pakistan.
The Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the United Nations, Vepa Hajiyev, spoke at the opening ceremony of the 2026 United Nations Games, held on 12 June in a virtual format. This was reported by the press service of the Permanent Mission of Turkmenistan to the UN. V. Hajiyev noted the growing role of sport in strengthening friendship, trust and mutual understanding between peoples. Representatives of UN member states, the Organization’s Secretariat and specialized agencies took part in the event. The ceremony officially launched the third UN Games — an initiative established by the General Assembly in resolution 78/325 at the proposal of Turkmenistan. The Games are seen as a platform for developing sports diplomacy, strengthening peace and international cooperation. Assistant Secretary-General of the UN and Executive Director of the Pension Administration, Rosemary McClean, also addressed the participants. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of sport in promoting inclusivity, well-being and solidarity within the UN community. As part of the ceremony, a video presentation was shown highlighting the results of the 2025 Games. More than 800 athletes from over 100 countries and organizations participated in those competitions, which featured ten sports disciplines. The 2026 Games program includes competitions in football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, table tennis, badminton, pickleball, chess, running and yoga. The tournament provides diplomats, international staff and their families with an opportunity to interact through sport and strengthen interpersonal ties. The closing ceremony and award presentation for the winners of the 2026 UN Games are scheduled for 17 July and will take place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.