During the solemn ceremony marking the opening of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC 3), President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev thanked the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov for awarding the Order ‘For Contribution to the Development of Cooperation’. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan.

‘It is a great honour for me to receive this award in the presence of distinguished colleagues, members of delegations and representatives of the public. I regard it as a sign of special respect for Uzbekistan and recognition of our joint efforts to strengthen friendship, good-neighbourliness and mutual trust in Central Asia,’ Mirziyoyev said.

The Head of Uzbekistan also recalled his first visit to Turkmenistan in 2017, which, according to him, marked the starting point for the intensification of bilateral cooperation. Over the past years, relations between the countries have strengthened, trade turnover has increased, and large-scale projects in the economic and humanitarian spheres have been implemented.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid special attention to Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's contribution to the development of regional dialogue and the strengthening of unity between the countries of Central Asia.

‘Today, the international community recognises our joint success in shaping a new model of regional cooperation. This is an achievement of all the brotherly countries of the region,’ the President of Uzbekistan emphasised.

Concluding his speech, Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed hope that the current UN conference and the December Global Summit in Ashgabat within the framework of the International Year of Peace and Trust will be a step towards further deepening regional dialogue and cooperation.