On 29 December, a telephone conversation was held between the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. This was reported by the state news agency TDH.

The parties exchanged congratulations on the upcoming New Year 2026 and addressed wishes of prosperity to the peoples of both countries. The President of Uzbekistan also conveyed warm greetings to the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

Hero Arkadag thanked him for the initiative to hold the conversation and noted it as confirmation of the friendly nature of bilateral relations. Special mention was made of the initiative to declare 2026 the ‘Year of Development of Mahalla and Social Prosperity’ in Uzbekistan, announced by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on 26 December in his address to the parliament and people of the country. It was emphasised that the decision is in line with the objectives of socio-economic development.

During the conversation, the macroeconomic indicators of Uzbekistan for 2025 were cited. The country's GDP exceeded US$145 billion, and the projected economic growth in 2026 will be 6.6 per cent. Achievements in the fields of education, science, healthcare, sports and ecology were noted.

The National Leader of the Turkmen people also announced that 2026 has been declared the year of ‘Independent Neutral Turkmenistan − the Homeland of Purposeful Winged Horses’ in Turkmenistan.

The President of Uzbekistan, in turn, highly appreciated the development of Turkmenistan under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and confirmed his commitment to expanding the strategic partnership.

The parties discussed bilateral political and diplomatic contacts, noting the intensification of mutual visits. The importance of the participation of the Uzbek delegation headed by the Head of the Presidential Administration, Saida Mirziyoyeva, in the International Conference on the Role of Women in Society, held in Turkmenistan, was emphasised.

The role of foreign ministries and diplomatic missions in the development of cooperation was noted. In this regard, the awarding of the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan Ravshanbek Alimov with the jubilee medal ‘Türkmenistanyň Bitaraplygynyň 30 ýyllygyna’ was recalled.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also noted the successful holding of a number of international events in Turkmenistan in 2025, including forums and summits in Awaza and Ashgabat.

During the conversation, they discussed preparations for international events planned for 2026, including the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, as well as the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the CIS. Special attention was paid to water issues and possible coordination of actions in the Central Asian, Aral and Caspian regions.

At the end of the conversation, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Shavkat Mirziyoyev once again exchanged New Year's greetings and wished each other health and success in their state activities.