As part of his working trip to the capital of Turkmenistan, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, Dr. Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, visited the Dental Centre under construction, where he familiarised himself with the project documentation, architectural features and level of equipment. This was reported by the state news agency TDH. During the visit, it was noted that the Centre will be equipped with modern medical equipment from leading manufacturers in Germany, the United States, Japan and other countries. Particular attention is being paid to the professional training of medical staff, the introduction of digital technologies and compliance with international standards in the construction and operation of facilities. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stressed the need to combine national traditions with advanced international experience, calling for work to continue in accordance with environmental and technical requirements. The visit was accompanied by foreign experts, including renowned German dentist Professor Axel Zöllner. Information was also provided on the training of personnel in medical educational institutions and the importance of preventing dental diseases. At the end of the visit, the Hero Arkadag gave a number of instructions and wished success in the implementation of the tasks set.
From 10 to 19 June 2025, the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan successfully held a specialised training seminar on modern approaches to risk management. The event was organised as part of the implementation of the strategic programme for the development of customs authorities until 2028. This was reported by the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. Experienced experts from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Grigore Varanita and Dorin Purice, shared international best practices with participants. The intensive training covered topical issues of digitalisation of customs processes, including the use of the ASYCUDA automated system and modern data analysis methods to improve control efficiency. Final testing confirmed the high level of professional training of Turkmen customs officers and their readiness to implement innovative solutions in their daily practice.
On 18 June, an international conference dedicated to the transition to energy-efficient refrigeration systems using environmentally friendly refrigerants concluded in Mytishchi, near Moscow. A Turkmen delegation, including representatives of key ministries, scientific institutions and private companies, took an active part in the event. This was reported by the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. During the conference, experts from Russia and Belarus shared their experience in introducing natural refrigerants that comply with the requirements of the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment. UNIDO experts presented best practices for the transition to climate-neutral technologies. Turkmen participants familiarised themselves with Russian regulatory documents and methodological recommendations in this area. The conference programme included practical excursions to production facilities where modern environmentally friendly solutions are already being applied. The event concluded with training in safety techniques for working with natural refrigerants and the presentation of certificates to participants.
The 10th Central Asian WKF Karate Championships have started in Bishkek, where the Turkmenistan national team demonstrated outstanding results on the first day of the competition. Turkmen athletes won seven medals, including two gold, two silver and three bronze awards. This was reported by the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. Turkmen karatekas were particularly successful in the kata discipline, where they demonstrated their technique in performing formal exercises. Gold medals were won by young athletes Abdyresul Klychev from Mary velayat and Allanur Yalkabov from Ashgabat. Silver medallists were Ovezmyrat Sapadurdyev from the Ahal velayat and Davut Saryev from the capital of Turkmenistan, who also added a bronze medal in the adult category to the team's tally. A total of 609 athletes from five Central Asian countries are participating in the prestigious competition. Turkmenistan is represented by 36 karatekas who continue to compete for medals in various disciplines and age categories.
The capital of Turkmenistan hosted a fashion show of the summer collection of national costumes, which became part of the city's cultural programme as a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the ‘Design’ category. The event highlighted the importance of preserving traditional crafts in a modern format. This was reported by IIC. The collection combined elements of traditional tailoring with contemporary design solutions. The organisers paid particular attention to demonstrating hand embroidery techniques and local textile traditions, deliberately avoiding any emphasis on the commercial aspect. Ashgabat, which was awarded the status of ‘Creative City’ in 2021, continues to develop a dialogue between national heritage and contemporary art. The show was another step in the implementation of this mission, bringing together the professional community and lovers of traditional culture.
The first freight train from the Chinese city of Jinhua (Zhejiang Province) departed for the Turkmen port of Turkmenbashy, marking the start of a new route within the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor. This was reported by the online publication ‘Business Turkmenistan’. The train, consisting of 100 standard containers with clothing, accessories, metal products and other goods, will cross the border at the Khorgos checkpoint, pass through Almaty, Tashkent and Ashgabat, and end its journey in Turkmenistan. The cargo will then be delivered by sea to the port of Baku on the Caspian Sea. The new route is aimed at reducing the load on the Kazakh port of Aktau and speeding up logistics between China, Central Asian countries and Central and Eastern Europe.
The Astrakhan delegation handed over to Turkmenistan a list of companies interested in entering the local market. Issues of expanding cooperation were discussed at a meeting of the intergovernmental commission of the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan, held within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. This was reported by the online publication ‘Business Turkmenistan’. The meeting was attended by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Nokerguly Atagulyev, Governor of the Astrakhan Region Igor Babushkin and Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Russian Federation Marat Khusnullin. The parties discussed the growth of trade and joint projects. In 2024, trade between the Astrakhan Region and Turkmenistan increased by 15%. Food products and grain make up the bulk of exports from Russia, while textiles are the main export from Turkmenistan. Special attention was paid to the transport sector. Igor Babushkin, Governor of the Astrakhan Region, proposed launching regular shipping between the ports of Astrakhan and Turkmenbashy and creating a Turkmenistan logistics centre in the region. He emphasised that the region's infrastructure allows it to handle any type of vessel and cargo, making it an important hub for bilateral trade.
On 18 June, a meeting between GECF Secretary General Mohamed Hamel and State Minister, Chairman of the State Concern ‘Turkmengaz’ Maksat Babayev took place at the headquarters of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Doha. This was reported by the news agency Orient. M. Hamel thanked Turkmenistan for its active participation in the Forum and noted its key role in the creation of the GECF. He emphasised the strategic importance of Turkmenistan as one of the largest gas reserves holders and highlighted the ‘Galkynysh’ and TAPI projects as the basis for increasing production to 150 billion cubic metres by the middle of the century. M. Babayev, in turn, informed about plans to modernise the gas industry and introduce AI and machine learning to improve the efficiency and environmental friendliness of production. He also reported on the preparation of digital and ‘green’ programmes in the energy sector. At the end of the meeting, the parties confirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation, and Turkmenistan invited the GECF to the OGT-2025 conference, which will be held in Ashgabat in October.
An international conference entitled ‘The International Dimension of Neutrality’ was held in Geneva, organised by the Permanent Mission of Turkmenistan to the United Nations. The event, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the country's neutral status and the International Year of Peace and Trust, brought together more than 300 participants, including heads of diplomatic missions, experts and representatives of international organisations. This was reported by the IIC. In his welcoming speech, Ambassador Thomas Greminger, Executive Director of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), noted Turkmenistan's contribution to strengthening global dialogue. Ambassador Vepa Hajiyev of Turkmenistan and Shiri Shiriev, Director of the Centre for Strategic Studies, presented reports on the role of neutrality in contemporary international politics. The panel discussion was attended by diplomats from Costa Rica, the UAE, India and representatives of Geneva research centres, who discussed various aspects of neutrality policy. The event also included bilateral talks on prospects for cooperation in the field of diplomacy and sustainable development.
As part of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, talks were held between the Deputy Prime Ministers of Turkmenistan and Russia, Nokerguly Atagulyev and Marat Husnullin. The Russian representative noted the dynamic growth in trade between the countries, which increased by 21.4% in the first quarter of 2025, and confirmed the development of a joint action plan for 2025-2027. This was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. During the talks, attention was paid to the development of transport corridors, including routes through Turkmenistan to China, the implementation of infrastructure projects (the Volga-Caspian Canal, the ‘Eastern Bypass of the Caspian Sea’), deepening cooperation in energy, industry and agriculture, and expanding cultural exchanges and educational programmes. The parties noted the significance of the participation of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, in the recent KazanForum, which underscores the special level of inter-state relations. The interlocutors confirmed their intention to develop a strategic partnership based on mutual trust and common interests.
As part of a working visit to Turkmenistan, Melda Yildiz, Doctor of Education at the New York Institute of Technology (USA), visited the International University for the Humanities and Development. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. The visit began with a meeting with university lecturers specialising in the digitalisation of the educational process, the introduction of artificial intelligence into teaching practice, and the development of digital platforms and modern educational technologies (EdTech). The discussion focused on current trends in education and their practical application in teaching and administrative activities. The next stage was a seminar conducted by Melda Yildiz for students and teachers on ‘Digitalisation, IT and Artificial Intelligence in higher education.’ The participants were representatives of STEM disciplines – engineering, technical, mathematical and natural sciences. The seminar was devoted to modern approaches to the integration of STEM methodologies into the educational environment and their significance for the digital transformation of higher education.
On 18 June, Turkmenistan's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Afghanistan, Hoja Ovezov, met with Afghanistan's Acting Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Mawlawi Hamidullah Akhundzada. This was reported by the online resource TerraNews. According to the source, during the talks, the Afghan side expressed its readiness to intensify cooperation, noting the favourable conditions for increasing cargo traffic. Among the topics discussed was the simplification of visa procedures for Afghan drivers, which should contribute to the development of road transport. The Turkmen ambassador confirmed his country's interest in deepening the partnership, especially in the areas of logistics and trade.