Today, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov left on a working visit to the Russian Federation, where he took part in an informal meeting of the heads of state of the Commonwealth of Independent States held in St. Petersburg.

At the Ashgabat International Airport, the head of Turkmenistan was escorted by officials.

...A few hours later, the presidential airliner landed at the Pulkovo International Airport in St. Petersburg, where the head of Turkmenistan was met by officials.

From the air harbor, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov headed to the venue of the current informal CIS Summit – the Konstantinovsky Palace.

This architectural monument of the 18th century is the main component of the palace and park ensemble in Strelna. Famous European architects worked on the project of the complex. In the modern epoch, as a result of large-scale restoration and reconstruction work, this historical ensemble was revived and acquired the status of a state residence.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, as well as Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan also arrived in St. Petersburg to participate in the current summit.

The leaders of the CIS states are invited to the Marble Hall, where an informal Summit was held.

Opening the meeting, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin once again warmly welcomed its participants. Expressing gratitude to everyone for accepting the invitation to visit St. Petersburg, the head of Russia noted that the current meeting would provide an opportunity in a friendly atmosphere to exchange views on topical issues of cooperation in its priority vectors, to “synchronize watches” before the upcoming annual full-format meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State in Astana next week.

Today, the partnership agenda in the Commonwealth space includes a wide range of areas, solving tasks for the implementation of the agreements reached, including at the interstate level.

In this regard, it should be noted that in recent years Turkmenistan has also repeatedly become a venue for important meetings, forums and various events under the auspices of the CIS. In an effort to fully promote building up effective cooperation, our country regularly puts forward concrete proposals aimed at developing new relevant forms of partnership and implementing promising joint projects.

Along with this, the humanitarian field is always an integral part of the partnership. Cooperation in science and education, culture and art, youth policy, as well as health and sports is an important factor in bringing countries and peoples closer together, strengthening the bonds of friendship and trusting relations between them. Having accumulated solid experience of fruitful cooperation with the Commonwealth states in these areas, Turkmenistan intends to continue to use and develop it effectively.

Today, it is also particularly relevant to deepen contacts through the introduction of advanced technologies. This is dictated by the very course of modern global development, where digitalization, innovation and technological creativity are synonymous with efficiency, competitiveness and success.

Ecology is an equally important area of interaction. Along with the economic and social components, the environmental factor is identified among the interrelated components of the Sustainable Development Goals. Currently, issues related to ensuring environmental safety, climate change and overcoming its consequences require special attention, and our country is making an effective contribution to consolidating efforts in finding balanced solutions to them.

In the context of partnership in the CIS format, Turkmenistan also stands for stimulating and intensifying ties through parliaments, actively using the experience of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth for this purpose.

It is also noteworthy that the CIS Observer Mission regularly participates in the election campaigns held in our country. In particular, this year, representatives of the Commonwealth, among international observers, monitored the most important socio-political action – the election of the President of Turkmenistan.

At the same time, it is appropriate to note that the Commonwealth states cooperate constructively on the platforms of international and regional organizations, providing mutual support to each other. Thus, the CIS countries invariably support the initiatives put forward by Turkmenistan within the framework of the UN and other authoritative structures and aimed at realizing the creative potential of neutrality, ensuring peace, security and sustainable development in the regional and global dimensions.

Thus, the informal CIS Summit held in St. Petersburg once again clearly demonstrated the commitment of neutral Turkmenistan to a fruitful dialogue in the Commonwealth space, also confirming the intention of the countries participating in the meeting to further strengthen and develop mutually beneficial cooperation across its entire spectrum.

At the end of the program of the working visit, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov proceeded to the Pulkovo International Airport, from where he left for his Homeland.