Ambassador of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Belarus, Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the CIS Nazarguly Shagulyev took part in the regular meeting of the Council of Permanent Representatives of the CIS Member States to the statutory and other bodies of the Commonwealth, which was held on 17 June in the Dzyarzhynsk district of the Minsk region at the ‘EcoTechnoPark – Volma’ resource centre. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. During the meeting, the results of the CIS Heads of Government Council, which took place on June 5 in Dushanbe, were summed up and tasks for the implementation of the adopted documents and agreements reached were defined. The participants considered all items on the agenda and approved 18 documents. Among them are the Agreement on Cooperation of the CIS Member States in the Development of Heavy Machinery Manufacturing, the Concept for the Development of Cooperation among CIS Member States in the Light Industry and the Action Plan for its Implementation, the Concept for the Harmonisation of National Air Traffic Management Systems of the CIS Member States, the Concept for Cooperation among the Commonwealth States in the Field of Public Health, and other documents. In addition, at the meeting of the heads of government of the CIS, a decision was made to establish an annual Forum of Commonwealth Volunteers and a new award - the badge ‘For the Development of Tourism in the CIS’. The members of the Council of Permanent Representatives also discussed proposals for the draft agendas of the autumn meetings of the Council of Foreign Ministers, the Council of Heads of Government and the Council of Heads of State of the CIS.
During May, Turkmenistan held a series of significant international events that contributed to strengthening its neutral and peacemaking potential, as well as developing partnerships with various countries and organisations. This was reported by the state news agency TDH. Libyan Culture Days were held in Ashgabat, accompanied by exhibitions, concerts and a conference on the contribution of Turkmen scientists to Arab culture and Islamic education. On 5 May, the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan discussed cooperation with the EU and the international organisation 'Hedayah' in the field of security. At the same time, Turkmenistan Day was held at the WHO European Office in Copenhagen to mark the anniversary of the country's neutrality. On 6 May, talks were held with the Saudi Arabian ambassador and representatives of UN-Habitat on sustainable urban development. On 8 May, the Foreign Affairs Ministries of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan discussed bilateral and regional issues. From 12 to 16 May, the Institute of International Relations of the Foreign Affairs Ministry hosted the first regional seminar for young diplomats in Central Asia, as well as a competition on the culture of peaceful dialogue among students. On 13 May, a meeting with UN coordinators from Central Asian countries was held in Ashgabat, during which the region's contribution to the implementation of UN initiatives in the areas of climate, gender equality, digitalisation and health was highlighted. On 13-14 May, a conference on climate change was held in Ashgabat, organised jointly with the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC). On 14 May, meetings were held between the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and representatives of ‘Petronas’, ministers of the UAE, and agreements were signed with the Malaysian and Emirati sides on cooperation in the oil and gas sector. On 15 May, prospects for cooperation with Lithuania were discussed. On 16 May, in Kazan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held talks with the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation, Rustam Minnikhanov, emphasising the high level of relations between the countries. On 18–19 May, the Tehran Dialogue Forum was held in Tehran, where Turkmenistan presented its priorities in the field of transport diplomacy. From 19 to 20 May, the international music festival ‘Music of the World’ was held in Ashgabat, as well as a meeting of the Turkmen-Iranian intergovernmental commission, which ended with the signing of a protocol. The Turkmen delegation met with Iranian leaders to discuss economic and humanitarian issues. On 20 May, the first Central and South Asia Dialogue was held in Termez, where issues of sustainable development and regional integration were discussed. On 21 May, projects in the field of youth policy were discussed with a UN representative at the Foreign Affairs Ministry. From 21 to 23 May, a Turkmen delegation visited China, where negotiations were held with representatives of the NPC and the PRC, including on parliamentary cooperation and the implementation of initiatives within the framework of the UN. On 22 May, a video conference of the UN Country Team in Turkmenistan was held to discuss the country's priorities under the 2026-2030 Framework Programme for Cooperation, with a focus on sustainable development, energy, the environment and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
On 17 June, Japanese Ambassador to Turkmenistan Hiroshi Sasaki visited the Yagshygeldi Kakayev International University of Oil and Gas. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. During the visit, the diplomat presented the university with several dozen books in English on Japanese culture and society, donated by the Nippon Foundation. The ambassador also toured the library and reading rooms of the educational institution, visited the Geology Museum and familiarised himself with the work of the DRILL SIM-5000 drilling laboratory at the Faculty of Oil and Gas. At the end of his visit, Hiroshi Sasaki expressed his gratitude for the hospitality and the opportunity to visit the university.
A three-day international chess tournament for children aged 8, 10 and 12 has come to an end in the capital of Turkmenistan. The competition was attended by 129 young chess players from 11 countries in Europe and Asia. This was reported by the state news agency TDH. At the end of the tournament, representatives of Turkmenistan took first place in the overall medal standings in rapid and blitz chess, winning 19 awards. Second place went to the team from Uzbekistan, and third place to Kazakhstan. Turkmen athletes distinguished themselves with their high level of training, winning prizes in both disciplines – rapid and blitz. In particular, female chess players from Turkmenistan dominated in the 10 and 12 age categories. The winners were awarded in a solemn atmosphere. Later, the participants visited the city of Arkadag, where a ceremony was held at the ‘Märkaw’ Hotel to present gifts from the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Guardianship. The young chess players were presented with laptops on behalf of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
To date, hundreds of people, including citizens of India, China, Pakistan and other countries, have crossed the border through Turkmen checkpoints. This was reported by the press service of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan. The Turkmen authorities are organising the safe transit of these people, facilitating their return to their home countries. The transit mechanism is being implemented with the support and coordination of the diplomatic missions of the countries accredited in Ashgabat.
The results of the ‘Маңғыстау мақамдары’ (‘Mangystau Makams’) International Composers' Competition, one of the most important events of the ‘Cultural Capital of the Turkic World’ programme, were announced in the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan. The Grand Prix, the highest award, was unanimously awarded to Rovshen Nepesov, Honoured Artist of Turkmenistan. This information was reported by the IIC. The competition, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of People's Artist of the USSR Nurgisa Tlendiyev, was held under the slogan of preserving the musical heritage of Turkic peoples. A distinctive feature of the competition was its completely anonymous evaluation system: The jury members, including renowned musicians from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and a representative of TÜRKSOY, selected the best works without knowing the names or countries of the authors. Alongside Rovshen Nepesov, Kazakhstani composers also received high honours. Aytkali Jayimov (Astana) won the Grand Prix award, while the top spots were taken by Sanjar Bayterekov and Yermurat Usenov (Almaty). Special awards from TÜRKSOY and the competition organisers were presented to Yermek Omirov and Nurlan Bekenov. The Turkmen composer's victory highlighted the importance of cultural exchange within the Turkic world and demonstrated the high level of Turkmenistan's musical art. The organisers noted that the competition represents an important step in supporting young artists and promoting folk art.
At the ‘Ashgabat 2025’ international chess tournament currently taking place in Ashgabat, licensed referee Sharif Nataj Khadije from Iran stated that the Turkmen capital fully meets the requirements for hosting world-class competitions. She noted the impeccable organisation, modern infrastructure and professional refereeing. This was reported by the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. The Head of the Russian delegation, Alexander Shkurikhin, also praised the atmosphere of the tournament, emphasising the spirit of friendship and fair play among the participants. A total of 129 young chess players from 11 countries are taking part in the competition. The first medals have already been awarded in the rapid chess discipline, where the Turkmenistan team took first place in the unofficial team standings. The competition is being held in a modern chess and draughts school built on the initiative of the Hero Arkadag. Experts are confident that the successful organisation of the tournament opens up prospects for Ashgabat to host Asian and World chess championships.
Experts from the Laboratory of Alternative Energy Sources and Measurement Instrument Technologies at the International Science and Technology Park of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan have introduced a new material for viticulture: hydrophobic sulphur concrete cages. PhD in Technical Sciences, Meretmuhammet Hudayberdiyev, has the potential to revolutionise agriculture. This information was featured in the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: The Golden age’. Traditionally, grape trellises are made of wood or metal, but these materials are susceptible to rot, corrosion, and deterioration due to moisture and chemical exposure. The new sulphur concrete composite lacks these drawbacks—it possesses high mechanical strength, resistance to aggressive environments, and, most importantly, hydrophobic properties, i.e., the ability to repel water. This technology, developed by Turkmen scientists, is opening new horizons for the agricultural sector by reducing maintenance costs and increasing production efficiency. The application of these technologies is particularly important for countries with hot climates where traditional materials wear out quickly. Experts highlight that sulphur concrete trellis serves as a successful example of the effective use of modern materials in agriculture and contributes to the sustainable development of agriculture. In the future, this technology could be adapted for other crops requiring support structures.
From 28 May to 18 June 2025, a series of training sessions for young people was held in six etraps of Turkmenistan as part of a UNDP regional project on preventing violent extremism. The events, organised by UNDP with the support of the Government of Japan, brought together more than 180 participants from the country's pilot districts. This was reported by the IIC. The training sessions aimed to raise young people's awareness of government programmes for socio-economic support and to develop skills that will help them to remain resilient in the face of modern challenges. Participants in the mentoring training sessions had the opportunity to engage in open dialogue and exchange experiences. The project is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of Turkmenistan and contributes to the creation of an inclusive environment for the active participation of young people in society.
David Pommerenke, Professor of Electrical Engineering at Graz University of Technology (Austria), paid a working visit to the Institute of Telecommunications and Informatics of Turkmenistan. The Austrian expert's visit was aimed at strengthening scientific and educational cooperation between universities in the two countries. This was reported by the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. During the visit, the professor gave a lecture to students on ‘Electrostatic damage’, where he shared his professional experience and answered questions from future specialists. Particular attention was paid to the protection of electronic components from static electricity. A significant part of the visit took place in the ‘Antenna and Feeder Devices’ laboratory, where an exchange of experience in the field of radio engineering systems took place. Teachers and students of the institute demonstrated to the Austrian guest their developments in the field of digital television, satellite broadcasting and radio communication systems, which were highly appreciated by the professor. The parties discussed prospects for further cooperation, emphasising their mutual interest in developing partnerships. Particular attention was paid to the importance of integrating advanced international experience into educational and scientific processes.
The 17th round of the Human Rights Dialogue between Turkmenistan and the European Union took place in Brussels on 17 June this year. The meeting, aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, allowed the parties to discuss key issues of human rights protection, the rule of law and gender equality. This was reported by the IIC. The Turkmenistan delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Gurbanov. The delegation included representatives of the Ministries of Education, Labour and Social Protection, Internal Affairs, Justice, the Supreme Court, the Institute of State, Law and Democracy, as well as the Ombudsman of Turkmenistan. During the dialogue, the Turkmen side presented progress in the implementation of the National Action Plan on Human Rights (2021-2025), including measures on judicial reform, protection of socio-economic rights and promotion of gender equality. Particular attention was paid to the fulfilment of international obligations, including those under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The parties also discussed cooperation with the UN, the OSCE and other international organisations, emphasising Turkmenistan's commitment to constructive dialogue in the field of human rights. At the end of the meeting, an agreement was reached on further developing partnership in this area.
From 21 to 23 August, Ashgabat will host the ‘Kids Expo: Everything for Children’ international universal exhibition and fair. This was reported by the portal ‘Business Turkmenistan’. The forum will serve as a platform for presenting products and services aimed at children, ranging from everyday goods to solutions in the field of education and leisure. The event will be attended by companies seeking to strengthen business ties and promote their brands on the market. According to the organisers, the aim of the exhibition is to stimulate the introduction of innovative approaches in the children's goods and services industry, as well as to attract foreign investment to the national market.