Hero-Arkadag Held a Phone Conversation with the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

The prospects for further development of traditional cooperation, built on the principles of mutual benefit and equal partnership, were discussed during today’s phone conversation between the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Expressing satisfaction with the opportunity to personally discuss pressing issues of interstate relations, Hero-Arkadag took the occasion to congratulate the leader of the friendly country on the New Year. On behalf of himself and the President of Turkmenistan, he conveyed best wishes for robust health, prosperity, and new successes.

Thanking Hero-Arkadag for his kind words, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also extended his wishes of happiness, well-being, and further prosperity to the leadership of Turkmenistan and the Turkmen people. He congratulated Turkmenistan on the beginning of the International Year of Peace and Trust, declared by the UN General Assembly at Turkmenistan's initiative.

The National Leader of the Turkmen people expressed gratitude for a recent letter from the President of Kazakhstan, in which the conceptual significance of Turkmenistan’s approaches to global issues was acknowledged and supported.

The phone conversation included a detailed exchange of views on cooperation for the upcoming year on various pressing matters. It was noted that Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan relations across the entire spectrum of bilateral agendas are developing dynamically and consistently. Hero-Arkadag commended President Tokayev’s personal contribution and consistent efforts in strengthening ties between the fraternal nations and states.

Both leaders emphasized that recent political and diplomatic interactions have intensified significantly, providing a strong basis for expanded cooperation in economic, trade, humanitarian, and other fields, including water issues.

In this context, the National Leader fondly recalled their recent meeting in Riyadh on December 3, 2024, during the "One Water" Summit, which was timely and significant.

“Water-related challenges in the 21st century are a global issue. The economic and climatic well-being of the planet, as well as the nature and direction of interstate political cooperation, largely depend on how effectively we address these challenges,” stated Hero-Arkadag, expressing satisfaction that Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan hold fundamentally aligned positions on water issues, creating a solid foundation for joint efforts.

He reiterated that the comprehensive discussion of water issues in Central Asia should be based on three key principles: adherence to international law, mutual consideration of the interests of all regional states, and the involvement of international organizations, particularly the UN. Confidence was expressed that these principles would lead to successful joint efforts in addressing water challenges in Central Asia.

Touching upon environmental issues, Hero-Arkadag thanked the President of Kazakhstan for effective chairmanship of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, highlighting that Turkmenistan will continue to fully support Kazakhstan's positions on climate and ecological matters in the coming years.

The conversation also touched on the International Year of Peace and Trust, declared by the UN General Assembly for 2025, as an acknowledgment of Turkmenistan’s humanitarian policy aimed at global well-being. Turkmenistan reaffirmed its readiness to intensify national actions to achieve the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

In the humanitarian sphere, Turkmenistan plans to focus on issues related to migrants, refugees, and stateless persons. Hero-Arkadag proposed that the country’s experience in addressing such issues be considered for implementation in other regional states.

Addressing President Tokayev, Hero-Arkadag expressed interest in his views on Turkmenistan's initiatives, given his extensive diplomatic and state experience. In response, the President of Kazakhstan reaffirmed his country’s full support for Ashgabat’s initiatives, especially in addressing global challenges.

The leaders reviewed the progress of previously agreed cooperation in energy, transport, transit, and cultural-humanitarian areas. Both sides stressed the importance of promptly organizing consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries, with a proposal to hold such consultations in Astana shortly.

In conclusion, the National Leader of the Turkmen people and the President of Kazakhstan exchanged New Year greetings once again, wishing each other health, prosperity, and success.

Source: State News Agency of Turkmenistan