The President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, is taking part in a summit as part of the Regional Ecological Forum, which is being held in the capital of Kazakhstan, where two major international events are taking place simultaneously today: the Regional Ecological Summit and a meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Founding Members of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS). This was reported by the IIC, citing the newspaper ‘Turkmenistan’.

The summit (RES 2026), held under the motto ‘Shared vision for resilient future’, is attended by the leaders of Central Asian states, the Presidents of Armenia, Georgia and Mongolia, the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, as well as representatives of international organisations and leading experts in the field of ecology.

Speaking at the plenary session chaired by the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the President of Turkmenistan outlined Ashgabat’s position on key issues on the regional ecological agenda.

The Head of State emphasised the historical significance of the current forum, noting that this was the first time such a wide range of environmental issues had been discussed at the highest level.

Serdar Berdimuhamedov stated that this reflects the readiness of the region’s countries to move towards systematic and long-term measures in the field of environmental protection, combating climate change and ensuring social sustainability. The President of Turkmenistan also drew attention to the urgency of global challenges — water scarcity, land degradation, desertification and biodiversity loss — which exacerbate migration processes and require coordinated action.

Particular emphasis was placed on expanding cooperation with international organisations, primarily the UN. As practical steps, the President of Turkmenistan proposed establishing a Regional Centre for Climate Technologies and a Regional Centre for Combating Desertification for the countries of Central Asia in the region.

The Head of State also noted the importance of drawing on the historical experience and traditions of the peoples of the region, who have demonstrated a careful approach to water and land resources for centuries.

Speaking on transboundary water resources, Serdar Berdimuhamedov reaffirmed his commitment to the principles of their rational and equitable use. In the context of the status of a Caspian state, the President of Turkmenistan reiterated initiatives to protect the Caspian Sea ecosystem, previously presented at the UN.

In conclusion, the President of Turkmenistan emphasised the continuing relevance of the Aral Sea issue and expressed confidence that the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the IFAS founding members would enable the development of concrete solutions for the restoration of the Aral Sea region and the strengthening of joint coordination of actions.