On May 22, a meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Independent States was held in Ashgabat. Turkmenistan, as an associate member of the CIS, reaffirmed its commitment to equal and constructive cooperation with CIS countries in both bilateral and multilateral formats, according to AsmanNews.
As part of Turkmenistan’s CIS chairmanship in 2026, meetings of councils and specialized structures are being held in the country. A Concept defining the main directions of cooperation has been prepared. In the political sphere, emphasis is placed on strengthening regional security, trust, and the CIS’s role as a platform for dialogue. Turkmenistan advocates coordinated action within the UN framework and strengthening international law.
In the economic block, priority is given to trade, transport, energy, industrial cooperation, and digital technologies. Special attention is paid to the development of transport and logistics corridors, including multimodal routes and their integration with the North–South and East–West directions. The humanitarian dimension includes education, science, culture, sports, tourism, and youth exchanges. Particular attention is given to healthcare: 2026 has been declared the Year of Health Protection in the CIS. The agenda also includes ecology, the green economy, and the introduction of environmentally friendly technologies.
Delegations from CIS countries arrived in Ashgabat to participate in the meeting. The event was held at the “Garagum” hotel (Garagum). The Turkmen delegation was led by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers H. Geldimyradov.
Opening the meeting, he conveyed greetings from the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov. Participants were thanked for their attendance and reaffirmed their readiness to expand cooperation.
CIS Secretary General Sergey Lebedev presented the agenda and procedure of the meeting. After approval, an exchange of views took place on trade and economic issues. The potential for increasing trade turnover and expanding cooperation was noted. The CIS Economic Council plays a significant role in this regard.
Turkmenistan emphasized the importance of long-term economic cooperation. The approach is based on the CIS Economic Development Strategy until 2030, formed on the basis of the Declaration on Strategic Cooperation adopted in Ashgabat in 2019.
Special attention was given to transport infrastructure and logistics development. Turkmenistan is promoting the formation of Eurasian corridors and the development of international routes using the region’s port and railway infrastructure. In the energy sector, emphasis is placed on supply development, infrastructure, energy efficiency, and renewable energy sources.
Food security, environmental issues, climate policy, and digital transformation were also discussed. The country is implementing programs for the development of a digital economy for 2026–2028. The decision to declare Minsk and Karaganda as CIS youth capitals for 2027 and 2028 was also supported.
Following the meeting, a number of documents were signed. In an expanded format, participants discussed economic cooperation, digitalization, transport, and industrial cooperation. The need for coordinated and pragmatic approaches to partnership development was emphasized. The meeting concluded with a press conference highlighting its practical results and high level of organization.
The Ashgabat meeting reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s course toward strengthening cooperation within the CIS framework and enhancing sustainable interaction among member states.