On September 18, 2024, a round table was held in the Mejlis of Turkmenistan to discuss the revision of the law on local self-governance with Monique Mosolf, (USAID) Deputy Regional Mission Director for Central Asia in the Mejlis of Turkmenistan.

During the meeting it was noted that legal, territorial, institutional, financial and economic foundations of self-government are necessary for the effective functioning of local government bodies.

In this regard, it was decided to actively support the digitalization activities of the main legislative body of Turkmenistan, exchange experience in legislative work, and also combine joint efforts in issues related to improving the work of local governments.

On 17 September 2024, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov paid a working visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan to participate in the second high-level meeting in the “Central Asia-Germany” format.

Upon arrival to Astana, the President of Turkmenistan was met by the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov and other officials.

From Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport, the motorcade of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov headed to the venue of the high-level meeting - the Palace of Independence.

In the foyer of the Palace, the head of Turkmenistan was warmly welcomed by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

After the traditional ceremony of joint photographing in front of the national flags of the participating countries of the “Central Asia-Germany” meeting, the heads of delegations were invited to the conference hall.

The Summit, chaired by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, was also attended by Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Zhaparov, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed gratitude to the parties for their participation and support of regional cooperation. It was highlighted that the regular and trustworthy nature of the dialogue at the highest level serves as an evidence of the commitment of the Central Asian states and Germany to the comprehensive development of regional strategic partnership.

Then the floor was given to the Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz and heads of Central Asian states.

In his address, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov expressed gratitude to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for hospitality and excellent conditions created for work.

Describing the relations between the Central Asian states and Germany as consistent and constructive, especially in recent years, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that experience and traditions of cooperation have been accumulated, mutually beneficial business partnerships have been established, and intergovernmental channels of interaction are working in a number of fields.

It was noted that Turkmenistan highlights the achievement and maintenance of regional peace, security and stability as a priority task of joint work.

“We believe that in the current circumstances, closer political and diplomatic cooperation between the countries of Central Asia and Germany can have a significant constructive effect on the overall situation in the region and neighboring space”, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov said. He also noted the need to involve the efforts of the international community, primarily the UN, in this work, based on the common strive of the leadership of the countries to see Central Asia as a peaceful, calm, economically attractive region, a space of stability and predictability.

Among the key issues related to peace and security in the region, the President of Turkmenistan named the situation in Afghanistan, underlining that today the Afghan people gained real opportunities to overcome the difficult period that lasted for many years and to start constructive, nationwide work on restoring state institutions, economy and social sphere, to achieve and establish peace, harmony and unity.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov identified trade, economic and investment cooperation among the priorities of the partnership between the Central Asian states and the Federal Republic of Germany, including such areas as transport and logistics, communications, energy, industrial production, chemical industry, engineering, medicine and pharmaceuticals, agro-industrial complex, and developments in information technology.

It was noted that the priorities of interaction with Germany include issues related to the environment and climate change. Turkmenistan highly appraises the position of the German Government and its commitment to cooperation with the countries of the region. In this regard, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized the importance of the high-level conference “Green Central Asia” held in Berlin in 2020.

The President of Turkmenistan also drew attention to humanitarian cooperation, noting that people-to-people contacts have always had a fruitful impact on interstate relations. In this context, the importance of developing youth cooperation between Central Asia and the Federal Republic of Germany was noted.

At the end of his speech, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov once again expressed gratitude to the President of Kazakhstan for the excellent arrangement of the meeting, reaffirming Turkmenistan’s readiness for close cooperation within the “Central Asia-Germany” format.

During the dialogue, the participants of the meeting highly appraised the level of relations between the countries of Central Asia and Germany, noting in particular the demand for multilateral dialogue, which fully correlates with the strive towards joint wellbeing and progress.

Today, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, who is on a working visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan, is taking part in the second meeting of the heads of Central Asian states with German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Astana.

By successfully implementing the peacekeeping foreign policy strategy initiated by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Hero Arkadag, and worthily continued by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, neutral Turkmenistan has consistently demonstrated commitment to constructive international dialogue, which contributes to solving important tasks of global development and building trust-based cooperation in the common interests.

And the participation of the Turkmen side in the current high-level multilateral meeting «Central Asia+Germany», the agenda of which covers a wide range of topical issues of our time, was another confirmation of this.  

As you know, the first summit of the heads of State of Central Asia and Germany in the 5+1 format in Berlin, held in September 2023, marked the beginning of close cooperation in this format, at which five Central Asian countries expressed their readiness to establish a strategic partnership with the Federal Republic of Germany in the interests of peace and sustainable development.

The National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who took part in that historic meeting, who stood at the origins of the exceptionally productive Turkmen-German cooperation, stressed that Turkmenistan welcomes the initiative to create a new multilateral format and is ready to expand cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. 

As you know, today Germany is one of the main economic partners of Turkmenistan in Europe, as clearly evidenced by the established fruitful contacts with the largest German companies, regular business meetings and business forums, effective activities of the Joint Turkmen-German Working Group, etc.

Before the start of the high-level meeting, the head of Turkmenistan held a number of meetings, including with the head of the German Government and heads of well-known German companies.

Then, after the traditional ceremony of joint photographing against the background of the National flags of the participating states of the meeting «Central Asia+Germany», the heads of delegations were invited to the meeting room.

The summit, which was chaired by the Head of the Republic of Kazakhstan, was also attended by German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Today, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, who is on a working visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan, met with German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the sidelines of the second high–level meeting in the Central Asia-Germany format in Astana.

Warmly greeting each other, the interlocutors expressed satisfaction with the opportunity to discuss in a personal conversation the most important issues of the established constructive interstate cooperation, which has been successfully developing all these years on a trusting, mutually respectful basis.  

Having conveyed to the head of the Government of the friendly country the words of greeting from the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Hero-Arkadag, who stood at the origins of the formation of constructive cooperation between Turkmenistan and Germany, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov expressed confidence that today's first bilateral meeting with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz during the dialogue «Central Asia – Germany» will contribute to further strengthening Turkmen-German relations. 

The Head of the German Government conveyed greetings and best wishes to the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Hero Arkadag, who made a huge personal contribution to the development of Turkmen-German relations, and also noted his country's high interest in further deepening productive partnership with Turkmenistan, which has gained high prestige and recognition in the international arena thanks to the wise and forward-looking policies, as well as progressive initiatives in the name of universal peace, security and sustainable development.

Emphasising the importance and great attention paid to the development and strengthening of bilateral relations with Germany, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted with satisfaction that relations between the two countries are developing on a systematic and long-term basis, based on a solid legal framework, which includes 90 different treaties and agreements. 

Noting the systematic nature of the cross-economic Days, business forums and economic exhibitions, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov highlighted the important role of the Joint Turkmen-German Working Group and the Eastern Committee of the German Economy, which do a lot for the systematic development of interstate cooperation.