Turkmenistan continues to develop its foreign policy cooperation with international partners. This year’s key events have included foreign visits by the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. This was reported by TDH.

In February, Hero Arkadag visited the USA. Meetings were held with representatives of the business community and company executives. Investments, trade development and the expansion of business contacts were discussed. Projects in the field of sport, including golf and equestrian sports, were considered separately.

On 27 March, a meeting of the bilateral Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation with the US was held at the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan. The parties discussed investment cooperation and the growth of trade turnover.

In March, the National Leader of the Turkmen people visited the People’s Republic of China. A meeting took place in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The high level of cooperation in politics, the economy and the humanitarian sphere was reaffirmed. Joint projects in the gas sector were discussed, including the development of the ‘Galkynyş’ field. Prospects for cooperation in the transport and logistics sector were also considered.

On 18 March, negotiations were held with the management of CNPC. Further stages of the field’s development were discussed. On 17 April, the fourth phase of the ‘Galkynyş’ project was launched in the Mary velayat, including the construction of a gas processing plant with a capacity of 10 billion cubic metres per year.

In April, Hero Arkadag visited Austria. In Vienna, he took part in the International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum. Turkmenistan’s position on the development of international energy cooperation and the climate agenda was reaffirmed. During the visit, meetings were held with the Federal President of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen, as well as with representatives of the UN, UNIDO and the IAEA. Issues relating to industrial development, energy and international cooperation were discussed.

Turkmenistan reaffirmed its commitment to the goals of the Paris Agreement and the development of ‘green’ energy. A willingness to cooperate in the field of hydrogen energy was noted. Particular attention was paid to initiatives on energy security. A proposal was made to consider drafting an ‘Energy Code’ under the auspices of the UN and an international document on energy cooperation.

In April, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov visited Kazakhstan. In Astana, he took part in 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). Issues relating to climate change, water resources and environmental security were discussed. Turkmenistan proposed establishing a Regional Centre for Climate Technologies and a Centre to combat desertification in Central Asia.

The creation of a Regional Council on Water Use under the auspices of the UN was also initiated. The need to comply with international standards and take into account the interests of all countries in the region was emphasised. The issue of the Aral Sea was addressed separately. Turkmenistan advocates strengthening the role of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea and developing cooperation with the UN. The UN Regional Centre for Climate Technologies will soon begin operations in Ashgabat.