On 25 February, a meeting between Rashid Meredov, Foreign Affairs Minister of Turkmenistan, and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, took place at Lancaster House. The parties exchanged views on further strengthening Turkmen-British ties, noting their steady development, including in the fields of culture and education, according to the press service of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan.

On the same day, during a joint working lunch of the Heads of Foreign Ministries of Central Asian countries with the participation of the Duke of Edinburgh, the importance of the upcoming first ministerial meeting in the ‘Central Asia-UK’ format was emphasised as an important step towards deepening multilateral cooperation.

The Turkmen side expressed its gratitude for the warm welcome and noted its respect for the United Kingdom as a country with a rich cultural and diplomatic heritage. The significant potential for expanding cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere, along with the development of political and economic interaction, was emphasised.

Particular mention was made of the high level of interest in Turkmenistan in learning English and British culture, as well as the importance of educational and academic exchanges, including the Chevening Scholarships programme.

Examples of the intensification of cultural dialogue include the Scottish dance evening ‘Ceilidh’ held in Ashgabat, the installation of a monument to William Shakespeare in the capital of Turkmenistan, and the release of a BBC documentary about the leopards of Kopetdag.