In the past week, our independent neutral country marked one of the significant dates of the national calendar – Day of the Constitution and National Flag of Turkmenistan.

As President Serdar Berdimuhamedov underlined in his salutatory address to his compatriots on the occasion of the holiday, this significant date, which embodies firmness of pillars of independence and neutrality of our state, personifies our unity and coherence, our invariable adherence to the peace and friendship doctrine.

On May 18, with participation of the President of Turkmenistan a flower-laying ceremony at the pedestal of the Monument to the Constitution and the Main flag of our fatherland took place.

That day solemn events and festive concerts of workers of art and culture, in which the songs glorifying our independent native land, unity and coherence of our people, beauty of our native land and creative energy of the Era of Revival of the new epoch of the powerful state sounded all over the country.

Turning to the chronology of events of the past week, we should note that on May 12 at the working meeting devoted to the state of affairs in fields of regions, the head of the state drew the attention to necessities of maintenance of sustainable development of the agrarian sector and introduction of new technologies and the latest achievements of science in the industrial segment widely. .

On May 14, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov received Minister of Industry and Advanced Technologies of the United Arab Emirates, Director General of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Al Mazrouei and Minister of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of UAE Ahmed Al Sayegh, who arrived in our country on a visit.

The special attention was attached to cooperation in the fuel and energy sector during negotiations. President Serdar Berdimuhamedov confirmed readiness of Turkmenistan for intensification of interaction with ADNOC as well as, as a whole, to consecutive expansion of constructive relations with the United Arab Emirates.

That very day National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Hero-Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held a meeting with the high-ranking delegation of the United Arab Emirates.

As was marked, the United Arab Emirates are a reliable partner of Turkmenistan both in political and in social and economic spheres.

With a view of the further strengthening of Turkmen-Emirates cooperation, Hero-Arkadag made a proposal to set up the Intergovernmental committee for oil and gas and chemical sectors and expressed confidence that the joint work with the United Arab Emirates on development of transport-logistical system in Central Asia, the Caspian region and Afghanistan in the near future will be carried out.

On May 14, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov received head of the Malaysian company Petronas Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik.

As was pointed out during the meeting, Turkmenistan attaches a great importance to the strengthening of bilateral relations with Malaysia in economic, trade, transport, energy spheres as well as in spheres of education and culture.

Petronas’s role in consecutive development of mutual relations was especially underlined. Having noted that the company throughout almost 30 years has taken an active part in projects for extraction of hydrocarbon resources in the territory of our country and promotes training of highly skilled experts for the oil and gas branch, the head of the state confirmed readiness of Turkmenistan to consider specific proposals aimed at development of interaction in new areas.

Prospects of expansion of long-term cooperation were discussed during the meeting, which took place that very day between National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and representatives of Petronas.

Hero-Arkadag marked that Turkmenistan sees Petronas not simply as an investor, but also as a strategic partner with which it has maintained mutually beneficial relations for many years and shares similar positions.

The Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty also noted that at the Technological University Petronas were trained more than 200 Turkmen students, and in this connection, proposed to speed up work on organisation of short and long-term training courses.

The special attention was given to construction of the second factory for manufacture of gasoline from natural gas in Turkmenistan. Hero-Arkadag stated readiness to consider the company’s definite proposals on realisation of joint projects in our country.

With participation of National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty Hero-Arkadag in Ashgabat a meeting of heads and representatives of th national fuel and energy complex, specialists of the oil and gas branch and profile branch departments of the United Arab Emirates and Petronas Malaysian company was held.

By the outcome of the meeting, Agreements between Türkmennebit State Concern, «Petronas Carigali (Turkmenistan) Sdn Bhd» (Malaysia) and «ADNOC Turkmenistan RSC Limited» (United Arab Emirates) and between Türkmengaz State Concern, «Petronas Carigali (Turkmenistan) Sdn Bhd» (Malaysia) and «ADNOC Turkmenistan RSC Limited» (United Arab Emirates) were signed.

With a view of successful fulfilment of goals put before the oil and gas branch of our country, the President of Turkmenistan past week signed a number of documents, according to which Türkmengaz and Türkmennebit State Concerns were authorised to conclude contracts with «Petronas Carigali (Turkmenistan) Sdn Bhd» (Malaysia) and «ADNOC Turkmenistan RSC Limited» (United Arab Emirates).

On May 17, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov held a regular online meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, the agenda of which included a number of issues of state life.

Topics discussed included development of the bills concerning various spheres of economic, political and cultural life of the state, development of the state budget and the investment program for 2026, introduction of digital system at large industrial enterprises of Türkmengaz State Concern, increase of transport-transit throughput and development of turnover of goods of the railway sphere and activity of the agricultural complex.

A number of proposals to enhance partnership with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) were sounded.

Along with it, the information on preparation for important events planned for the near future was delivered. Among them - XXIV universal international exhibition and conference «White city Ashgabat», celebrations in honour of the "Last bell» event, Ashgabat City Day and the holiday of the Turkmen carpet as well as organisation of two musical festivals.

Preparation for summer holidays of children and teenagers in centres of recreation and health improving complexes located in Gökdere, Avaza national tourist zone and in velayats was also informed.

Taking an opportunity, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov congratulated participants of the meeting and all Turkmen people on Constitution and National Flag Day and pointed out that the forthcoming holiday will further strengthen unity and coherence of society for further prosperity of our independent fatherland.

According to the Decree signed by the head of the state, the day off was transferred from May 18 to May 19, 2025 - Monday with a view of creation of favourable conditions for solemn celebration of this significant event and comfortable rest of the population of the country.

At the meeting, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed the Resolution to instruct the Ministry of Finance and Economy to organise work on preparation of drafts of the state budget for 2026, basic areas of social and economic development and the investment program of Turkmenistan and to submit them to the Cabinet until November 1, 2025.

Besides it, the past week, the President of Turkmenistan signed the Resolution to approve the structure of the Joint Turkmen-Iranian intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation from the Turkmen party as well as the Decree to send 289 pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for fulfilment of the hajj from May 31 to June 23, 2025.

The government meeting also summed up the working visit of National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Hero-Arkadag to the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation with a view of participation in the XVI international economic forum «Russia - Islamic world: KazanForum», held on May 16.

Speaking at the forum, Hero-Arkadag called the Islamic countries to form a uniform energy, transport and technological belt of Eurasia connecting the continent from the Asian-Pacific region to states of the Near East and Europe.

At the same time, the National Leader of the Turkmen people proposed Islamic financial and economic institutes, investment funds to render more effective support to the international economic projects in which our countries participate as well as to participate in the process of development of strategic solutions adopted at the level of the United Nations and other authoritative international structures.

Hero-Arkadag expressed expediency to adjust system and regular ways of technological cooperation of our countries, exchange of experience, preparation of profile experts, and start of joint multilateral innovative programs and projects of applied and basic researches.

The special attention was given to issues of food safety and technological development of the Islamic world.

During the working visit to the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation, National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held a telephone conversation with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

Interlocutors noted dynamical development of the Turkmen-Russian relations in various areas, including the political-diplomatic sphere and cooperation within the regional and international organisations and underlined importance of continuation of active interstate dialogue.

Prospects of further development of Turkmen-Tatar interaction were discussed during the meeting of National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov with head of the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation Rustam Minnikhanov.

On behalf of the head of the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation, a reception was given in honour of National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and State Advisor of the Republic of Tatarstan was also present. During the conversation, they expressed confidence in further intensification of partnership in interests of well-being of our friendly people.

Achievements of our country in all key industries of economy, including its private sector, available versatile potential for mutually beneficial long-term cooperation and works of traditional forms of national art were widely displayed in the national pavilion of Turkmenistan at the international exhibition «Russia Halal Expo 2025» held in Kazan.

The past week on the instructions of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the Mejlis received credentials from Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lithuania to Turkmenistan Kęstutis Vaškelevičius.

The Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan hosted a regional seminar for young diplomats and civil servants of countries of Central Asia.

The same higher educational school became a venue of the international scientific-practical conference «Foreign policy and diplomacy of Turkmenistan: cooperation for peace, security and sustainable development».

In the forum held in the hybrid format, scientists, the faculty of some higher educational institutions and representatives of centres of science of Russia, the USA, Belgium, Germany, Qatar, China, Iran, Turkey, Belarus, Armenia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan and students took part.

The special attention was paid to the contribution of Turkmenistan to the strengthening of culture of peace and trust, joining of efforts to achieve goals of sustainable development and effective counteraction to global challenges during plenary and section sessions.

On the sidelines of the conference, results of the II international competition «International relations: culture of the peace dialogue» were summed up and it brought together specialists in the field of diplomacy - more than 170 students and postgraduates of local higher educational schools and seven foreign states.

In the capital hotel «Ýyldyz» the Central Asian conference on issues of climate change, organised by the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan was held with the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (RECCA).

Problems of consolidation of efforts of states of the region, scientific circles, ecological organisations and international financial structures for development of practical solutions promoting sustainable development and ecological stability were in the centre of attention.

At the multipurpose stadium of Arkadag city designed for 10000 spectators, celebrations on the occasion of the victory of «Arkadag» football team in the in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge League took place. The winning trophy was transferred to the khyakimlik of Arkadag city.

At the request of sportsmen, coaches and specialists of the football team, the cash prize won in the international tournament, will be transferred to the account of the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Guardianship.

As Hero-Arkadag informed in his congratulation, these funds were decided to spend on construction of a new building of the state children's library named after Bazar Amanov.

According to the Decree signed by the head of the state for a big contribution to make high achievements in Turkmen sports, successful performance in the higher league of Turkmenistan and victory in the final of Asian Football Confederation Challenge League on behalf of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov coaches and sportsmen of the team winner under solemn conditions were handed cash awards.

Members of the Council of Elders of the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Guardianship visited the children's health and rehabilitation centre in Arkadag city and the capital Palace «Döwletliler köşgi». On behalf of the President of the country and the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty children were presented with  gifts - fruit, berries and other fruits of the first crop of this year.

National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov made a working trip to Arkadag city where he familiarised with projects of the objects planned to be built and reconstructed in the territory of the new city.

Hero-Arkadag considered proposals on installation of sculptures and fences in territories of the park under construction as well as projects on introduction of solar panels for development of energy from renewed sources. Projects of various city objects, including the avenue «Ahalteke atlar», a mosque, railway and road service station, a reconstructed bridge on the avenue Gökdepe were presented.

Honoured architect of Turkmenistan Hero-Arkadag underlined necessity of construction of each social object taking into account their profile, natural features of the district and requirements of the modern town-planning program and actively introduction of digital technologies. At the same time, necessity of due equipment of industrial objects of the new city and attraction of investments was marked.

During the working trip, National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Director of the Resident Mission of the Asian Development Bank in our country Artur Andrysiak.

The parties discussed prospects of cooperation within the strategy of partnership with Turkmenistan for 2024-2028, approved by the Council of Board of the Asian Development Bank and by the Government of Turkmenistan.

With participation of Hero-Arkadag, the Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the State Committee for the Construction of Arkadag City under the President of Turkmenistan and the Asian Development Bank.

Thus, events of the past week displayed success of the course consistently pursued by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, which reflects adherence of Turkmenistan to consolidation of peace and sustainable development, social and economic prosperity as well as further cooperation with all interested countries.