A Meeting of the Heads of Foreign Policy Agencies of the European Union and Central Asian States Was Held

On March 27, the next meeting of the heads of foreign policy agencies of the European Union and Central Asian states took place at the "Ýyldyz" hotel in the capital.

The event was attended by the heads of the foreign ministries of Turkmenistan, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas.

The discussions focused on cooperation between Central Asian countries and the EU, as well as preparations for the first summit in the "European Union–Central Asia" format, which will take place in the near future in the city of Samarkand.

The holding of the meeting in the current year, declared by the UN General Assembly at Turkmenistan’s initiative as the "International Year of Peace and Trust," takes on special significance. This serves as a vivid testament to our country’s commitment to the principles of positive neutrality, peacefulness, and good-neighborliness, making a significant contribution to the development of equal cooperation that aligns with the goals of global well-being.

At the same time, it was noted that Turkmenistan promotes important initiatives in the sphere of international interaction with all interested countries and takes concrete steps toward their implementation.

As emphasized, in recent years, multilateral cooperation between Turkmenistan and the European Union has been actively developing. Priority areas include climate change, transport corridors, energy, science and education, regional security, and the rational use of water resources.

In this regard, emphasis was placed on the fact that cooperation in the field of environmental protection, a key vector of national policy, is being successfully implemented under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and all of the country’s initiatives in this area receive broad support from the international community.

The importance of holding a high-level meeting in Ashgabat in October 2024 to launch the Coordination Platform of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor was also highlighted. This new platform is designed to attract investments in railway, road, and port infrastructure, expand economic cooperation between Europe and Central Asia, and enhance the sustainability of transport corridors. Joint efforts within this platform will not only develop transport infrastructure but also accelerate the introduction of advanced technologies and innovations into the relevant system.

It was underscored that, within the framework of large-scale cooperation in the "Central Asia–European Union" format, a number of joint projects are being implemented across various sectors at bilateral and regional levels, alongside the organization of meetings and forums dedicated to discussing priority areas of partnership. In this context, emphasis was placed on measures being taken under the EU’s "Global Gateway" initiative to achieve digital, energy, and environmental transformations.

The parties confirmed the importance of joint efforts to expand cooperation in the cultural-humanitarian sphere, as well as to enhance activities in the areas of "green development," environmental protection, and climate change.

At the conclusion of the event, the participants, noting the significance of the current meeting for strengthening interaction between Central Asian countries and the EU, expressed confidence in the further development of relations in this format.

Following the meeting, the Joint Communiqué of the 20th Ministerial Meeting "Central Asia–European Union" was adopted.

Within the framework of the meeting, a parallel event titled "International Year of Peace and Trust: Deepening Cooperation between Central Asia and the European Union" was also organized, in line with the UN General Assembly Resolution declaring 2025 the "International Year of Peace and Trust."

In addition, bilateral meetings were held between the participants of the "Central Asia–European Union" ministerial meeting.

Source: State News Agency of Turkmenistan