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The past month has brought new bright touches to the active socio-political life of the country, filling it with events that are particularly significant both for strengthening fruitful international cooperation and increasing the role and authority of Turkmenistan and its leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the world stage.
An illustrative example is the participation of a representative Turkmen delegation headed by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Serdar Berdimuhamedov in the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, held early last month in one of the largest cities in the UK – Glasgow.
The participation of our country in the annual global forum testifies to the most responsible approach of Turkmenistan to the issue under consideration, understanding the importance of taking common, consensual measures to counter serious challenges for humanity.
On November 3, a meeting with the Regional Representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for Central Asia, Richard Komenda, was held at the country’s Foreign Ministry via the digital system.
Issues of further development of Turkmenistan’s cooperation with UN specialized agencies on human rights were discussed during the meeting, which was also attended by the UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan Dmitry Shlapachenko.
Members of the Mejlis of Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan through the digital system took part in the 19th autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) held on November 3-4 of this year.
On November 9, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan held a meeting with the Federal Minister for European and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria Michael Linhart, who arrived in Ashgabat on a working visit.
During the constructive conversation, the heads of the foreign ministries of the two countries discussed the key vectors of interstate cooperation, emphasizing the readiness of Turkmenistan and Austria to increase fruitful cooperation in the political, diplomatic, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres. In this regard, it was proposed to hold the 11th meeting of the Joint Turkmen-Austrian Commission in the first half of 2022.
Following the talks, it was signed a Cooperation Program between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Federal Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria for 2022-2023.
On the same day, working meetings were organized at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry with the participation of representatives of large companies of this friendly country.
An important event of the last month of autumn became the 14th International Online Conference “Türkmentel-2021” organized by the Türkmenaragatnaşyk agency and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
As a result of the use of modern means of communication, more than 300 representatives from 25 countries took part in the conference. Among the long-standing partners of our country are leaders in the market of various types of communications and information technologies – NOKIA, HUAWEI, Thales, Afghan Wireless, Delta Telecom Ltd, Rostelecom, Eastwind, Azertelecom, etc.
From November 10 to 12, the OSCE Center in Ashgabat organized an online training course on media coverage of the pandemic and other health-related issues.
On November 15, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a meeting with a delegation of the World Health Organization headed by the Regional Director for Emergencies in the WHO European Region, Ms. Dorit Nitzan.
On November 18, at the 41st session of the UNESCO General Conference, Turkmenistan was elected as a member of the Intergovernmental Council of the International Hydrological Program for the period 2021-2025.
Prospects for the development of a long-term successful partnership were discussed at an online meeting held on November 19 with a delegation of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) under the leadership of EBRD Managing Director for Central Asia Zsuzsanna Hargitai.
On November 19, the Foreign Ministry held a meeting via the digital system with the Regional Representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Central Asia, Hans Friedrich Schodder, to overview of the joint work done this year, as well as to consider issues of implementing previously reached agreements.
On the same day, the seventh meeting of the Subcommittee on Energy Cooperation of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Chinese Cooperation Committee was held in an online format.
The parties discussed the implementation of agreements in the oil and gas industry reached during a telephone conversation between President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping in May of this year. In particular, the issues of exporting Turkmen natural gas to China were considered.
A few days later, on November 22, the 5th meeting of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Chinese Cooperation Committee was held via the digital system under the chairmanship of the Co-Chairman of the Committee from the Turkmen side, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the co-Chairman of the Committee from the Chinese side, a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Han Zheng.
Following the meeting, a package of documents was signed, including the Protocol of the 5th meeting of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Chinese Cooperation Committee; the Program on Cooperation between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China for 5 years (2021-2025); the Agreement between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on cooperation in the field of international cybersecurity; Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on biological safety; Cooperation Program to expand economic partnership between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
On November 22, the delegation of Turkmenistan took part in the regular meeting of the heads of the foreign ministries of Central Asia and the European Union in the European Union–Central Asia format held in the capital of Tajikistan.
On November 25, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Serdar Berdimuhamedov via the digital system took part in the 20th anniversary meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states, to discuss a wide range of issues of cooperation development within the SCO. Particular attention was paid to deepening ties in the trade, economic, investment and humanitarian spheres, particularly in the context of overcoming the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.
On the eve of the global forum, a business meeting of representatives of the business circles of the ECO member countries was held in a mixed format. More than 170 delegates took part in its work, as well as more than 270 participants from different countries joined the discussion via the digital system.
On the eve of the Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization, the country’s foreign ministry held a Meeting of Senior Officials of the ECO member countries, a number of bilateral meetings, including with participation of the Foreign Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Turkey, the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as with the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers was the final stage of preparation for the 15th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization, successfully held in the Turkmen capital under the chairmanship of the President of Turkmenistan.
According to the general opinion, the decisions adopted at the Summit and its final document – the Ashgabat Consensus for Action – will promote ensuring sustainable development, security and peace on the Eurasian continent.
The presented overview of various important international events held in November by ministries and departments became a vivid illustration of the new successes and achievements of independent neutral Turkmenistan, which, actively implementing the policy of openness and international cooperation initiated by the nation’s leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, expands and strengthens bridges of friendship and mutually beneficial partnership with all interested countries of the planet.
