On 9 July this year, the Palace of Culture in Ploiesti hosted the Asian Culture Festival, organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Prahova County with the support of the diplomatic missions of Turkmenistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the Philippines. This was reported by the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan. The event was attended by representatives of local authorities, heads of foreign diplomatic missions, public figures, residents of Prahova and journalists. In their speeches, the President of the Prahova Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Aurelian Gogulescu, and other participants emphasised the importance of cultural exchange and strengthening international cooperation. Festival guests were able to see a demonstration of traditional Asian costumes reflecting the ethnic diversity of the participating countries. As part of the business programme, the ambassadors met with representatives of the Prahova administration to discuss prospects for the development of bilateral relations. The Turkmen exhibition included national costumes, carpets, handicrafts, musical instruments, works of the classic Turkmen writer Magtymguly Pyragy, as well as books by the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The festival concluded with a tasting of Asian cuisine.
Turkmen athletes continue to perform well at the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Astana. On the fourth day of the competition, the Turkmenistan national team added new awards to its collection. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. Anamjan Rustamova won gold and silver among junior women in the 86 kg category, demonstrating a total result of 245 kg (105 kg in the snatch and 140 kg in the clean and jerk). Medina Amanova won three bronze medals in the 63 kg category with a total result of 198 kg (88 kg in the snatch and 110 kg in the clean and jerk). Among juniors in the 79 kg category, Didarbek Jumabayev won three silver medals with a result of 312 kg (138 kg in the snatch and 174 kg in the clean and jerk). These successes highlight the high level of training of Turkmen weightlifters and strengthen the country's position in international sport.
Turkmenistan has expressed its readiness to actively participate in joint projects with the EU. This was announced after a meeting between the European Commission's Director-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) Peteris Ustubs and the ambassadors of Central Asian countries in Belgium, according to the IIC of Turkmenistan. Sapar Palvanov, Turkmenistan's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Belgium, emphasised his country's desire to develop cooperation with the EU in the fields of transport, trade and energy. The participants discussed the results of the first ‘Central Asia – EU’ summit, as well as preparations for the Investment and Economic Forums scheduled for November this year. They also discussed expanding cooperation with the EIB and the EBRD. Turkmenistan and the EIB confirmed their intention to intensify the preparation of investment projects and memoranda of cooperation.
Representatives of Turkmenistan are participating in the 10th International Cultural and Educational Forum ‘Children of the Commonwealth,’ which began on 7 July in Belarus. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. The event is dedicated to the theme ‘80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War: Memory and Unity of Generations.’ Schoolchildren from nine CIS countries are participating in the event. The programme opened at the National Children's Technopark and includes master classes, excursions and introductions to the culture of the Commonwealth countries. The forum has been held since 2013 on the initiative of the Supreme Council of the Kyrgyz Republic with the support of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly. The event has already been held in Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Uzbekistan. The current forum will last until 16 July.
Representatives of Turkmenistan have been invited to participate in the International Festival ‘Samarqand oshi’ (‘Samarkand dish’), which will be held from 1 to 3 August in Samarkand. This was reported by the news website TerraNews. This large-scale event is dedicated to the art of cooking palav (pilaf), one of the main symbols of the cultural heritage of Central Asia. The festival organisers invite not only professional chefs and restaurateurs, but also all lovers of Eastern cuisine to exchange experiences and learn about the traditions of the region. The main event will be the preparation of 7.5 tonnes of ‘Samarkand palav’ under the guidance of leading chefs. For Turkmen culinary masters, this is a unique opportunity to showcase their national cuisine on the international stage and strengthen cultural ties with neighbouring countries.
An online training course organised by the World Health Organisation's country office was held in Turkmenistan. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. The event was attended by 15 representatives of the country's Ministry of Health and Medical Industry and the Myrat Garryev State Medical University of Turkmenistan. The main objective of the training was to strengthen national capacity in the development of clinical guidelines for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) based on evidence-based medicine. The training was held virtually from the UN building in Ashgabat and focused on clinical protocols, quality assurance in healthcare and NCD treatment methodologies. This was an important step towards the creation of sustainable health systems based on scientifically sound approaches. The training was organised as part of the project ‘Procurement of Medicines and Health Products for the Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD) in Turkmenistan through UNDP’.
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to Belgium, Sapar Palvanov, met with a delegation from the European Investment Bank (EIB) led by Davide Monguzzi, Senior Loan Officer for Asia. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. The parties discussed prospects for cooperation, focusing on the creation of a legal framework and the signing of framework agreements. S. Palvanov emphasised Ashgabat's interest in partnering with European financial institutions to promote sustainable growth, infrastructure development, ‘green’ energy and digitalisation. The interlocutors agreed to intensify the preparation of investment projects and memoranda of cooperation. Plans were also announced for a visit by EIB Vice-President Kyriacos Kakouris to Turkmenistan in August 2025 to participate in the UN LLDC 3 conference in the ‘Avaza’ National Tourist Zone. Bilateral meetings are planned to be held within the framework of the forum.
Turkmen athletes won six medals, one silver and five bronze, at the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Astana. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan. In the weight category up to 71 kg, Kakamyrat Annamyradov won silver in the combined event (288 kg) and two bronzes in individual exercises (snatch - 128 kg, clean and jerk - 160 kg). In the 53 kg category, Ogulshat Amanova won bronze in the total (174 kg), as well as two small bronze medals for the snatch (78 kg) and clean and jerk (96 kg). After the first three days, Turkmenistan ranks sixth in the overall medal standings.
On July 9, as part of a working visit to the Balkan velayat, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov got acquainted with the progress of preparatory work for holding the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in the ‘Avaza’ National Tourist Zone. This was reported by the state news agency TDH. The focal point of the visit was the Congress Centre, where the main events of the forum are planned. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov inspected the building, whose architecture combines modern forms with elements of national architecture. Hero Arkadag familiarised himself with the level of technical equipment, assessed the infrastructure and gave recommendations on ensuring comfortable conditions for conference participants, including foreign delegates and media representatives. The National Leader of the Turkmen people paid special attention to environmental and landscaping issues. According to the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, creating a comfortable and environmentally sustainable environment for residents and guests of the country is one of the priorities of state policy. During the trip, the Hero Arkadag was presented with projects for future cultural facilities and entertainment venues, including musical fountains, performance venues and recreation areas. These locations are being prepared as part of a cultural and humanitarian programme that will accompany the international forum. Concerts, friendship festivals and other events with the participation of foreign artists are planned. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov also familiarised himself with the state of the hotel infrastructure: he inspected the rooms intended for delegations and checked the quality of service. He emphasised the need to observe national traditions of hospitality and create a favourable atmosphere for guests. At a meeting with heads of relevant departments, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov outlined key tasks for the preparations, ranging from speeding up construction and repair work to providing information support for the conference. The National Leader of the Turkmen people stressed the importance of daily coverage of the forum in the Turkmen and international media. At the end of his visit, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed confidence that the upcoming conference will be an important step in strengthening international cooperation and will demonstrate the high level of organisation and peaceful foreign policy strategy of Turkmenistan in the context of the International Year of Peace and Trust.
An interactive online session organised by the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) took place in Ashgabat. The event, held as part of the 2025 Academy of Preventive Diplomacy, brought together young leaders from Central Asia and Afghanistan to discuss the role of youth and women in peacebuilding processes. This was reported by the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. The session took place in a landmark year – the 25th anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. Participants examined practical aspects of implementing the global agendas ‘Women, Peace and Security’ and ‘Youth, Peace and Security’ in a regional context. Particular attention was paid to the activities of the Central Asian Women Leaders' Dialogue under the UNRCCA, an important platform for strengthening the role of women in decision-making and promoting inclusive approaches to ensuring stability.
On 8-9 July 2025, Ankara is hosting a meeting of heads of tourism agencies of the member states of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS), which is attended by a delegation from the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan. This was reported by the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. During the event, the Turkmen side emphasised that under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the country is consistently developing international cooperation in the field of tourism, guided by the principles of neutrality. Particular attention is being paid to the implementation of comprehensive measures to develop the tourism industry, including improving infrastructure, enhancing the quality of services and promoting the country's tourism potential on the international arena. Turkmenistan's participation in the OTS meeting demonstrates the country's commitment to developing mutually beneficial cooperation in the tourism sector and opens up new opportunities for exchanging experience with brotherly Turkic states.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has published its annual report on the results of its work in Turkmenistan for 2024, noting significant progress in the implementation of joint initiatives. The document reflects achievements in key areas of cooperation, including digital transformation, climate resilience and inclusive economic development. This was reported by the IIC. The report emphasises that the past year has been a period of strengthening institutional capacity and introducing innovative approaches to public administration. Particular attention was paid to programmes supporting youth and women, ensuring equal opportunities and promoting transparency in all spheres of public life. UNDP notes that the results achieved were made due to close cooperation with the Government of Turkmenistan and international partners. The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to further supporting the country in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and building an inclusive society. The full version of the report, containing detailed information on the projects implemented and their results, is available on the UNDP official website.