On 29 May, the Consul of Turkmenistan in the Russian Federation (Astrahan) Gadam Ilamanov took part in an international scientific and practical conference dedicated to the development of water transport and the implementation of the North-South transport corridor. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. According to the source, the event, which took place at the Caspian Institute of Marine and River Transport named after General Admiral F.M. Apraksin, was also attended by representatives of diplomatic missions of the Caspian region countries, as well as representatives of regional authorities. During his speech, G. Ilamanov emphasised the importance of integrating national infrastructure into international logistics chains and spoke about large-scale projects being implemented in Turkmenistan. In particular, the Consul of Turkmenistan noted the modernisation of the transport industry, the digitalisation of logistics, and the development of railway and maritime infrastructure. In addition, the conference paid special attention to the port of Turkmenbashi, which is becoming a key link in the North-South route.
A solemn event organised by the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Belarus was held in Minsk on 28 May 2025. The event was held at the Republican Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children and was timed to coincide with two significant dates - the International Year of Peace and Trust and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality. This is reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. Director of the Centre Liliya Kondrashova warmly welcomed the guests, recalling her participation in the international conference on children's issues held earlier in Arkadag. Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Belarus Nurberdi Shagulyyev told the audience about his country's achievements during the years of independence and neutrality. The event was decorated with a colourful photo exhibition introducing the cultural heritage and natural beauties of Turkmenistan, as well as a video about the modern development of the country. The special atmosphere of the holiday was given by the performances of Turkmen students studying in Belarusian universities who performed folk songs and a fiery dance ‘Kushtdepdi’. The meeting ended with a touching moment - presenting gifts to the children undergoing rehabilitation at the centre. This gesture was a symbolic embodiment of the principles of humanism and mutual understanding that underlie the policy of neutral Turkmenistan.
A specialised training course for teaching staff and employees of training departments of the border, customs, migration, veterinary and phytosanitary services of Turkmenistan was held in Ashgabat. The event was organised as part of the Border Management Assistance Programme in Central Asia with financial support from the European Union. This was reported by the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden Age’. The lead expert of the training was Yulia Kazakova, consultant on educational process design and management for the Border Management Assistance Programme. During the training, participants gained in-depth knowledge of modern teaching methods, including innovative approaches to increasing student motivation. Particular attention was paid to the practical component - participants independently developed and conducted master classes in the format of a training conference, which allowed them to immediately apply the techniques they had learned in practice. This training was an important step in improving the professional training system for agencies responsible for security and control at Turkmenistan's state borders. Participants noted the high practical value of the knowledge they gained and expressed their readiness to implement new educational methods in their daily work.
On 27 May 2025, a high-level regional forum entitled ‘Dialogue for Children: Central Asia and UNICEF’ was held in Tashkent to mark International Children's Day. The event was organised by the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan, the ‘Zamin’ Foundation and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). This was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. The country's delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan A. Ovezov. In his speech, he presented the main directions of Turkmenistan's state policy in the field of protecting children's rights, emphasising achievements in the field of protecting the health of the younger generation. The importance of cooperation with UNICEF and other international organisations was also noted. The participants discussed the implementation of national programmes to support children and the prospects for regional cooperation in this area. An exchange of experience in creating a favourable environment for child development took place.
From 23 to 25 May 2025, students of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan took part in one of the largest model UN conferences in Central Asia - TIMUN 2025, organised by the International Westminster University in Tashkent. This was reported by the press service of the IIR of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. TIMUN 2025 gathered more than 400 participants from all over the world, becoming a platform for discussion of topical international and regional issues, development of diplomatic and negotiation skills. The conference included modelling the work of UN committees and discussing global challenges in the format of business debates. The theme of the conference – ‘Together for the Future, Together with Youth’ - emphasises the importance of youth participation in solving the world's problems and commitment to the goals of the UN Charter.
A two-day OSCE seminar on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 ‘Women, Peace and Security’ in Central Asia has concluded in Ashgabat. The event was organised with the support of Finland and brought together representatives from five countries in the region, international experts and diplomats. This was reported by the IIC. Seminar participants discussed the integration of the gender agenda into national security strategies and strengthening the role of women in conflict prevention and countering cross-border threats. Particular attention was paid to the experience of Turkmenistan, as the country has had a National Plan for Gender Equality in place since 2015. The event provided an opportunity to highlight the importance of Turkmenistan's neutral status in promoting peace initiatives. Following the seminar, recommendations were developed on improving legislation and raising awareness of the role of women in security issues.
The Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan hosted an international conference on natural disaster risk reduction. The main outcome was the completion of a joint project with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to modernise the seismological monitoring system in the Ashgabat region. This is reported by IIC. Within the framework of the project, a digital system for real-time observation of seismic activity was created. Four modern seismometers were installed around the capital, and three broadband stations were installed outside the city. Special attention was paid to the organisation of a monitoring network in 11 settlements of Ashgabat. The experts of the two countries discussed the issues of preparing the population for emergencies and application of advanced technologies in seismology, as well as considered the prospects for further cooperation. Experts from Turkmenistan and Japan presented the results of the joint project on modernisation of the seismological monitoring system. The data obtained will help improve seismic design standards for buildings.
On 27 May, the Mejlis of Turkmenistan hosted a meeting with a delegation headed by OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues Lara Scarpitta. This was reported by the press service of the national parliament. According to the source, at the beginning of the meeting the guests were introduced to the main directions of peace-loving domestic and foreign policy of Turkmenistan, as well as told about the composition and work of the national parliament. It was emphasised that strengthening sustainable and mutually beneficial cooperation with international structures, in particular with the OSCE, is a priority of the country's foreign policy course and contributes to the expansion of cooperation in new areas. In the course of the talks the sides discussed the implementation of the national plans on human rights, gender equality and protection of children's rights, as well as the importance of co-operation with the UN and the OSCE in these fields. In addition, the sides discussed promising areas of co-operation, including initiatives to increase women's political activity, their participation in peace, security and economic processes. The importance of holding training events and seminars to enhance the effectiveness of parliamentary activities in the context of digitalisation was also noted.
International journalist and expert in the field of sustainable development Derya Soysal became a participant of a special radio programme on the waves of Gold FM in Brussels, dedicated to the creative heritage of Turkmen poet Magtymguly Pyragy. This was reported by the Orient news agency. According to the source, D. Soysal emphasised that Magtymguly occupies an outstanding place in the Turkmen and Turkic, as well as in the world poetic tradition. In addition, she recalled that in 2024 Ashgabat hosted a large-scale celebration of the 300th anniversary of the poet, which brought together many high-ranking guests, including the Presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The journalist also recited Magtymguly's poems in four languages - English, French, Turkish and Turkmen, clearly demonstrating the universality and depth of his messages. At the end of the radio programme, D. Soysal noted that the poetry of Magtymguly Pyragy is not just a cultural heritage, but a living source of inspiration, capable of serving as a moral guide for all mankind.
A meeting with representatives of the University of Le Havre (France) was held at the Magtymguly Turkmen State University on 23 May. Vice-Rector of the University of Le Havre Jean-Noel Castorio and Director of International Relations Pierrot Barthelemy visited the Turkmen university, the press service of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan reported. According to the source, during the talks, the parties discussed key areas of co-operation and presented the educational opportunities of their universities. Special attention was paid to the experience of Magtymguly Turkmen State University in training specialists in French language and literature, along with teaching other foreign languages.
The National Museum of Turkmen Carpet held a traditional exhibition dedicated to the Turkmen Carpet Holiday. It is reported by the state news agency TDH. According to the source, the programme of the event included performances of creative groups and reading out a congratulatory message from the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov. The celebration was attended by dignitaries and diplomats. The best craftswomen were awarded for their contribution to the preservation of traditions. In addition, the Assembly of the World Society of Turkmen Carpet Connoisseurs was held to discuss the history, ornamentation and modern trends of carpet weaving.
On 24 May, Ashgabat hosted the grand opening of the XXIV International Universal Exhibition-Conference ‘White City Ashgabat’ organised by the capital's Mayor and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan. The event has become one of the key events in the celebration of the City Day, bringing together leading enterprises of the country to demonstrate innovative achievements. It is reported by the Internet publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. The stand of 'Aýdyň Gijeler', a company specialising in electronics, aroused special interest among visitors. The guests of the exhibition were able to appreciate the new line of portable tablets based on Android with screen diagonals of 10, 12 and 13 inches. The devices are equipped with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of built-in storage, and also come with a convenient removable keyboard case, which makes them an excellent choice for work and travelling. The real hit of the exposition was the Aygul robot - an experimental model with artificial intelligence capable of maintaining a dialogue in the Turkmen language. The robot not only answered visitors' questions, but also talked about the company's products in an interactive format. According to 'Aýdyň Gijeler' representatives, they plan to expand the robot's functionality in the future.