First of all, allow me to express my sincere gratitude to the organizers of the Conference for providing the opportunity to discuss such an important issue.

For a state, sustainability means the need to establish an accessible, high-quality and people-centered healthcare system. Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan has been consistently implementing healthcare reforms aimed at achieving this goal. One of the main areas of these reforms has been the development of modern medical infrastructure across the country and the expansion of access to medical care. Over the past 20 years, more than 500 new healthcare facilities have been built and equipped with modern medical equipment. These facilities are expanding diagnostic and treatment capabilities.

Azerbaijan pays particular attention to the development of domestic pharmaceutical production, attracting investment and introducing modern technologies to ensure the availability of medicines. These efforts help strengthen the reliability of medicine supplies, develop domestic production and enhance the resilience of the entire medical supply system.

Ensuring a comprehensive healthcare system requires continuous improvement in the quality of medical care and the development of primary health care. We therefore attach particular importance to this area. The effective functioning of the healthcare system begins precisely at this level, through disease prevention, early diagnosis, vaccination, monitoring of chronic diseases and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. In this regard, Azerbaijan continues to improve its legislative mechanisms. Parliaments play a special role in ensuring the sustainable development of healthcare systems.

Parliaments establish the legal framework for reforms, adopt decisions that determine the sustainability of healthcare systems, exercise parliamentary oversight and represent the interests of citizens.

I am confident that our dialogue and cooperation will contribute to the development of practical solutions and further strengthen the healthcare systems of our countries. I wish all participants in the Conference every success in their important and responsible work.

This year, I have participated in numerous meetings where healthcare issues were discussed. However, meetings such as today’s, which bring together those directly involved in the development of legislation, are of particular importance.

At the beginning of my professional career, I learned an important lesson: a minister may launch a program, but it is parliament that determines whether the program will continue after that minister’s term of office ends.

We all understand that legislation is only the beginning. Parliaments play a central role in ensuring adequate funding, overseeing the implementation of adopted decisions and monitoring the results achieved.

Laws outlast those who adopt them. Today, you bear the responsibility for making this a reality.

The WHO Regional Office for Europe looks forward to continuing its cooperation with you to ensure that the Year of Health leaves behind not merely a declaration, but a lasting legacy of a comprehensive set of legislative measures that the region can refer to and draw upon for many years to come.

First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely congratulate the people of Turkmenistan on the 35th anniversary of independence.

As is well known, Turkmenistan pays particular attention to social policy, including the development of medical science, disease prevention and the protection of public health. It is no coincidence that your country is hosting an international conference dedicated to universal health coverage for the second time. I would like to thank you for organizing this event to such a high standard and for your warm hospitality.

The protection of health is one of the fundamental human rights. In this regard, ensuring universal access to high-quality healthcare services is a strategic priority for all countries around the world. Progress in healthcare is an integral part of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This year has been declared the «International Year of Health» in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). This is not only an important step towards strengthening the well-being of our peoples and states, but also a special responsibility. Within the framework of this initiative, we have begun systematic work in key areas, including improving primary health care, preventing diseases, ensuring access to medicines and medical devices, and developing telemedicine.

Thanks to government support, dedicated programs and integration with scientific research and production, Russian medical science not only meets the most important needs of the healthcare system but also creates its own innovative products, ranging from original medicines and diagnostic systems to high-tech equipment.

We continue to cooperate with the World Health Organization. Currently, more than 20 WHO collaborating centres operate at Russian research institutions in various fields of healthcare.

At the legislative level, guarantees of free medical care have been established, along with standards for its quality and safety. The circulation of medicines is regulated, and legal frameworks have been created to facilitate the introduction of innovations. Members of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation analyze the practical implications of applying legislation in various areas and, where necessary, initiate amendments to existing legal provisions.

In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude to the organizers of this meeting and acknowledge Turkmenistan’s significant contribution to the development of multilateral cooperation. I am confident that today’s meeting will help create favorable conditions for expanding interstate cooperation, promoting the exchange of experience, establishing effective dialogue and harmonizing the interests of participants in international relations in the field of healthcare.

On 7 October 2026, the opening ceremony and plenary session of the Second International Conference «Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals» were held in the Avaza National Tourist Zone. The Conference was dedicated to important issues related to improving the healthcare system and advancing global sustainable development.

The main objective of this international event is to provide an effective platform for exchanging experience in improving healthcare systems at the regional and global levels, coordinating efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and becoming acquainted with the latest advances in medical science and practice.

The plenary session of the Conference was opened and chaired by Myratberdi Gayypov, Minister of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan. Addresses on the importance of regional and international cooperation in this field were delivered by Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matviyenko, Chairperson of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan Dunyagozel Gulmanova, Acting Director of the WHO Regional Office for Europe Corinne Capuano, Deputy Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Independent States Denis Trefilov, Director General of the “NMRM” Radiological Centre of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation and Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Kaprin, Member of the Health Committee of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ahliman Amiraslanov, Member of the Standing Commission of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus on Legislation and State Building Lyudmila Sapego, Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan Akmaral Alnazarova, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee of the Majlisi Milli of the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan on Social Affairs, Healthcare, Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Women’s Policy Nuriddin Mukhiddin, Minister of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan Eldor Adilov, and Biljana Milošević, Head of the Regional Office of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

In her address, Chairperson of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan D. Gulmanova particularly emphasized that caring for people and their health is currently one of the priority areas of the state policy pursued in Turkmenistan under the leadership of our esteemed President. Guided by the constitutional principle that the individual is the highest value of society and the state, our country carries out effective work to protect human health, improve the health of the population, prevent and eradicate diseases, as well as to develop the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries to the level of advanced international standards.

Large-scale, long-term programme activities aimed at consistently strengthening the universal healthcare system and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are being successfully implemented in our country.

Within the framework of the State Programme of the President of Turkmenistan «Health», the material and technical base and the legal framework of the healthcare system are being consistently improved.

Throughout Turkmenistan, medical centers, treatment and preventive healthcare institutions, sanitary and epidemiological service facilities, sanatoriums and pharmaceutical enterprises equipped with modern medical technology, as well as modern recreational, sports and tourism facilities are being consistently constructed and commissioned.

International relations play an important role in the development of healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry. On the basis of Agreements and Memoranda concluded in this field, effective cooperation is maintained with leading medical centres around the world, prestigious higher educational institutions, as well as renowned scientists and medical professionals.

Consistent work is also being carried out at the parliamentary level in our country to improve universal healthcare services and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The necessary legal framework is being established for the implementation of our national programmes. The continuous improvement of healthcare legislation and the protection of motherhood and childhood are among the principal tasks of the national Parliament.

Our country has legislative acts establishing standards for the protection of human health and ensuring the sanitary and epidemiological safety of the population, defining the legal foundations for the provision of medicines, and regulating relations in this field.

Among the contemporary tasks are the complete digitalization’s of the healthcare sector, the establishment of a regulatory and legal framework for the introduction of telemedicine and artificial intelligence, as well as the legislative consolidation of the phased integration of the potential of sanatorium-based and preventive medicine into the universal healthcare system.

Such activities at the parliamentary level broaden the opportunities for the successful implementation of planned measures aimed at achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, in particular the goal related to «Good Health and Well-Being».

By promoting peace, friendship and mutual understanding through medical diplomacy, Turkmenistan makes a worthy contribution to building a healthy and secure future for all humanity.

In this regard, Turkmenistan successfully implements joint programmes and projects with international organizations such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund.

The main objective of the «National Strategy for the Development of Scientific and Medical Diplomacy in Turkmenistan for 2026–2052» is to comprehensively develop medical science in the country, elevate international cooperation in healthcare to a new level, and coordinate global efforts in this field.

The centuries-old traditions of humanism, kindness and compassion of the Turkmen people are today being enriched with new meaning and substance at the state level. In this regard, the noble activities carried out at the national and international levels by the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Guardianship are a source of particular pride.

Using the resources of the Foundation, children in various regions of our country receive comprehensive medical treatment and appropriate assistance free of charge. Children’s hospitals are also regularly provided with modern medical equipment and high-tech ambulances. This humanitarian mission extends beyond our country to the international arena. The Foundation regularly provides assistance to children affected by natural disasters and economic hardships in various parts of the world. These noble activities are yet another vivid demonstration of Turkmenistan’s commitment to the principles of peace, good-neighborliness and high humanism.

Within the framework of its chairmanship of the CIS and during the period proclaimed in the CIS as the «Year of Healthcare», Turkmenistan contributes to strengthening interregional cooperation in this field through new ideas and concrete projects.

The speakers focused attention on important issues related to improving the healthcare system, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and strengthening international cooperation, and also presented their views on the forthcoming tasks in modernizing the legal foundations of contemporary medicine. They also highly appreciated the positive initiatives put forward by Turkmenistan and the large-scale activities being implemented in this area.

The participants of the Conference expressed their wishes for the further development of regional and international cooperation of global significance and conveyed their profound gratitude to the esteemed President of Turkmenistan and the National Leader of the Turkmen people for the opportunities created to hold this International Conference at a high organizational level.

On 7 October 2026, the Second International Conference “Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals” commenced in the Avaza National Tourist Zone.

This highly representative forum aimed at improving the healthcare system, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and strengthening international cooperation, is of great significance as an important platform for sharing national experience and promoting positive initiatives.

The International Conference will continue its work through a plenary session and thematic sessions.

The third thematic session of the International Women’s Dialogue was chaired by Xiaojun Grace Wang, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan.

The thematic session addressed such issues as the application of international law to prevent global threats, the peaceful and diplomatic settlement of conflicts, as well as further strengthening the role of women’s diplomacy in regional and global processes in this area.

The following speakers took part in the thematic session: Xiaojun Grace Wang, Acting Regional Representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Central Asia; Ennio Boatini, Head of the Bureau of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Jeyran Rahmatullayeva, Head of the Regional Office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Central Asia; Biljana Milosevic, Member of the Committee of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan on International and Interparliamentary Relations; Enejan Atayeva; Filiz Kılıç, Member of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Türkiye; Aliya Turusbekova, Chairperson of the Committee on Women’s Entrepreneurship of the Congress of Women of the Kyrgyz Republic and Tatyana Alekseevna Lugina, Chairperson of the United Organization of Business Entities of the Public Association «Belarusian Women’s Union» of the Republic of Belarus.

The speakers addressed standards of humanitarian law and international cooperation. Their presentations highlighted contemporary practices for expanding the legal and economic opportunities of women in promoting peace, supporting interregional entrepreneurial initiatives and protecting family values.

The participants highly appreciated the initiatives of neutral Turkmenistan aimed at strengthening peace, trust and sustainable development on the international stage, as well as the concrete results of the state policy pursued in support of the active participation of women in interparliamentary diplomacy.

Following the thematic presentations, the participants discussed proposals and measures that would contribute to bringing international cooperation in the areas of peace and sustainable development to a new level and summarized the results of the meeting.

The participants of the International Women’s Dialogue expressed their profound gratitude to the esteemed President of Turkmenistan and the National Leader of the Turkmen people for the excellent conditions created to enhance the role of women in society and promote peaceful and humanitarian initiatives throughout the world.

The second thematic session of the International Women’s Dialogue was held in the Avaza National Tourist Zone, focusing on improving the legal framework for protecting the rights and legitimate interests of women in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as coordinating interregional experience in supporting the role of women in public administration, legislative activities and public life.

During the session, addresses were delivered by Deputy Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Inna Svyatenko, Deputy Chairperson of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan Movludakhon Khodjaeva, Head of the Central Asia Regional Office of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women Guven Jeren Guresh, Head of the Monitoring and Evaluation Department of the Department of Women’s Affairs of the Ministry of Social Development of the Sultanate of Oman Ziyun Amer Al Jabri, Regional Gender Adviser at the UNFPA Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Gabriela Minte Alvarez, Member of the Committee of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan on Legislation and its Norms Jenet Ovezova, and Zili Rakhimyanovna Valeeva, Head of the Tatarstan Regional Office of the Women’s Union of the Russian Federation.

The speakers highlighted national achievements in ensuring the legal rights and interests of women, protecting motherhood and childhood, as well as supporting innovative initiatives by women in social policy. The thematic session served as a highly effective and particularly important platform for strengthening the legal protection of women and enhancing the participation of parliamentarians and international organizations in the implementation of sustainable development programs. Following the presentations, a discussion was held on solutions in the respective areas, and the results of the thematic session were summarized.

The participants of the thematic session highly appreciated the work being carried out in Turkmenistan to expand the rights and opportunities of women, as well as to consistently improve national legislation aimed at ensuring gender equality.

Following the session, a Final Document aimed at further strengthening interregional and international cooperation and achieving specific objectives was unanimously adopted.

The participants of the International Women’s Dialogue expressed their profound gratitude to the esteemed President of Turkmenistan and the National Leader of the Turkmen people for the excellent conditions being created to enhance the role of women in society and promote peaceful and humanitarian initiatives throughout the world.

The first thematic session of the International Women’s Dialogue discussed advanced practices of international and regional cooperation in identifying strategic areas for ensuring women’s well-being, strengthening peace and stability in society, expanding the socio-economic opportunities of women and girls, promoting gender equality and strengthening family stability. 

During the thematic session, Chairperson of the National Centre of Trade Unions of Turkmenistan and Chairperson of the Central Council of the Women’s Union of Turkmenistan Oguljennet Berdiliyeva, UNDP Resident Representative in Turkmenistan Narine Saakyan, Head of the Standing Committee on Labor and Social Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Irina Anatolyevna Kostevich, Deputy Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Education, Science, Culture, Sport and Diaspora of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Alkhas Kazaryan, , Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund in Turkmenistan Jalpa Ratna, Vice-President of the Women’s Union of the Russian Federation Nina Alekseevna Chernyaeva, Member of the Committee on International Relations, Defence and Security of the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nurgul Tau, and Butt Hina Perwaiz, Head of the Women Protection Directorate of Punjab Province of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, delivered addresses on the protection of the labor rights of women and girls, strengthening their social protection, expanding their role in state structures and improving legislation in this area, citing specific examples from their national experience.

The thematic session served as an effective platform for coordinating international and regional experience in ensuring women’s well-being in society and expanding their rights and opportunities.

Following the presentations, a discussion was held on solutions in the respective areas, and the results of the thematic session were summarized.

The speakers highly appreciated the activities being carried out in Turkmenistan to ensure women’s well-being and the sustainable development of society.

Following the session, a Final Document aimed at further strengthening interregional and international cooperation and achieving specific objectives was unanimously adopted.

The participants of the international event expressed their profound gratitude to our esteemed President and Hero-Arkadag, who are elevating state policy towards women to a new level, ensuring a high standard of organization of international forums and creating every opportunity for their effective work.

This is my first visit to Turkmenistan, and I am very pleased that my acquaintance with your wonderful country begins here — with a dialogue on women, peace and the future. I sincerely thank the Turkmen organizers of the International Women’s Dialogue for the invitation and warm hospitality.

We know how precious peace is. Today, in a world where conflicts continue in different regions, the climate is changing, economic inequality is growing, and artificial intelligence is transforming the economy and labor market before our very eyes, this issue is more important than ever.

The stability of a state begins with the stability of the individual. The stability of society begins with the stability of the family. And the stability of the family begins with women.

I represent Tajikistan, a country that consistently promotes at the international level issues related to water resources, climate change and sustainable development. At the initiative of Tajikistan, the United Nations proclaimed 2025 the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation. The first High-Level International Conference on Glacier Preservation was held in Dushanbe. In 2025, the UN General Assembly adopted a Resolution on the role of artificial intelligence in creating new opportunities for the sustainable development of Central Asia. Tajikistan, together with the countries of the region, is advancing this initiative.

Twenty-five years ago, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 recognized the role of women in promoting peace and security.

I believe that Central Asia has enormous potential in this area. I would like to see women from Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan meeting not only at forums, but also working together to implement joint projects, enter regional markets, develop new technologies and participate in addressing the challenges posed by climate change.

First of all, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Turkmen side for organizing the International Women’s Dialogue «The Role of Women in Maintaining Peace and Achieving Sustainable Development», which is highly relevant and important for the modern world, as well as for the sincere hospitality extended to us. Holding this prestigious meeting in brotherly Turkmenistan is of particular significance to us. The Azerbaijani and Turkmen peoples are united not only by geographical proximity, but also by common historical roots, language, culture, traditions and customs, as well as by spiritual bonds forged over centuries.

I would like to note with satisfaction that relations between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan are currently developing steadily. Mutual trust and the political will of the Heads of our States have a positive impact on all aspects of our cooperation. One of the important areas of these relations is interparliamentary cooperation. We are particularly pleased with the consistent expansion of ties between the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Mejlis of Turkmenistan. I am confident that further expanding ties between women parliamentarians of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, as well as implementing joint initiatives and projects, can give new impetus to our cooperation.

In the history of the Turkic peoples, to which I belong, women have always played a special role. At different periods of our history, women held important positions in state administration, diplomacy, science, culture and public life. We must combine this rich historical heritage with the opportunities of the present day. I am confident that the women of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan can continue to play an important role in this endeavor. The shared culture and spiritual values of our peoples are a tremendous advantage for us. We must transform this historical closeness into concrete cooperation projects oriented towards the future.

I am confident that the International Women’s Dialogue being held today in brotherly Turkmenistan will become one of the important platforms contributing to the building of precisely such a future and will contribute to further strengthening friendship between our countries and peoples, solidarity among our women, and a culture of peace and cooperation throughout our region. 

We express our special gratitude to the esteemed President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and to the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairperson of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, esteemed Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, for their significant contribution to strengthening peace, mutual trust, humanism and international cooperation.

It is a great honor for me to be in Turkmenistan today, at this important forum bringing women together in the name of peace, the well-being of families and the future of our children.

First of all, I would like to express my deep gratitude to our Turkmen colleagues for their warm hospitality and for creating opportunities for mutual respect, trust and open dialogue among women.

The Congress of Women of the Kyrgyz Republic has extensive experience working with women from different regions, professions and generations. Over the years of our work, we have become convinced that women possess tremendous creative power. When a family needs help, a mother is the first to sense it. A mother is the first to think about her child’s future. It is often a woman who is the first to propose a path towards reconciliation. Therefore, women’s participation in strengthening peace and promoting sustainable development should be not merely one-sided, but comprehensive and genuine.

May today’s dialogue mark the beginning of new joint projects aimed at protecting the interests of women and families and, above all, our children!

Peace begins with women, with the future of every child. Sustainable development begins with our shared responsibility.

Türkiye supports the exchange of experience with Turkmenistan on issues related to empowering women and expanding their rights and opportunities. Economic, social, environmental and humanitarian issues require greater solidarity between our two countries. I am proud to emphasize that relations between Ankara and Ashgabat are based on fraternal ties, a shared history, language and culture. Türkiye was the first state to recognize the independence of Turkmenistan.

With regard to the women’s agenda, Türkiye has developed the Strategic Document and Action Plan for 2024–2028. This document covers issues related to education, healthcare, the economy, leadership and climate change. In addition, the country is implementing the Fifth National Action Plan on Combating Violence against Women for 2026–2030.

In today’s world, women not only face the consequences of crises, but also play a crucial role in ensuring peace. This representative international dialogue is an important platform for exchanging experience and identifying the tasks ahead in this area.