On December 5, 2024, the National Leader of Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev had a telephone conversation. 

Expressing gratitude to the President of Uzbekistan for the initiative of holding the telephone conversation, the National Leader of Turkmen people emphasized that bilateral meetings and talks are a vivid expression of brotherly relations between the Turkmen and Uzbek peoples.

Expressing sincere gratitude for kind words, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that Uzbekistan is proud of Turkmenistan’s achievements in all sectors and attaches special importance to the expansion of friendly relations.

Also, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted the great personal contribution of Hero-Arkadag to the strengthening of bilateral partnership and taking the opportunity conveyed warm greetings and best wishes to President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

During the conversation, the sides discussed the current state and prospects for the development of bilateral partnership in trade-economic and fuel-energy spheres.

As is known, Turkmenistan has been supplying natural gas to Uzbekistan for a number of years based on the principles of good-neighborliness and mutual respect. In this regard, the National Leader of Turkmen people and the President of Uzbekistan have emphasized the high efficiency of collaboration in the gas sphere, indicating to its long-term nature. The sides agreed to increase the volumes of Turkmen natural gas supply to Uzbekistan. In addition, they emphasized the prospects of implementation of joint projects in the gas sector to be implemented in the near future.

Hero-Arkadag and the President of Uzbekistan thoroughly considered the issues of cooperation on water. The National Leader of Turkmen people expressed Turkmenistan’s position on approaching the water issues in Central Asia.

It was noted that matters related to water in the region should be resolved on the basis of universally recognized norms of international law with account of interests of all countries in the region on the principles of free and equitable access to water. At the same time, water issues should be considered with active participation of international organizations, first, the United Nations.

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan expressed strong support for this approach and reaffirmed that the positions of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on water issues fully coincide, highlighting Uzbekistan’s readiness for further close interaction with the Turkmen side on water issues both bilaterally and within the framework of international structures.

During the telephone conversation, it was underlined that cooperation is also actively developing in cultural-humanitarian sphere.

Taking the opportunity, the President of Uzbekistan once again expressed his deep gratitude to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov for supporting the proposals put forward to further strengthen and develop Turkmen-Uzbek relations.

At the end of the conversation, the National Leader of Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed confidence that fraternal relations between the two countries will consistently develop in the spirit of mutually beneficial strategic cooperation. The sides exchanged wishes for good health and success in responsible state work.