Turkmen athletes won two silver medals at the 20th Asian Summer Games, which took place in Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October. This was reported by Arzuw.news. Davut Nazmyradov won a silver medal in karate-do (WKF) in the under-75kg weight category. The second medal, in the under-110kg weight category, was won by weightlifter Shahzadbek Matyakubov. Matyakubov lifted 188 kg in the snatch and 222 kg in the clean and jerk, totalling 410 kg. He finished second behind Akbar Jurayev of Uzbekistan, who lifted 423 kg. The Turkmenistan delegation comprised 57 people, including 34 athletes and 15 coaches. Turkmen athletes competed in eight sports: boxing, wrestling, karate-do, wushu, kurash, swimming, athletics and weightlifting. Athletes from 45 countries – members of the Olympic Council of Asia – took part in the 20th Asian Games. They competed for 469 sets of medals across 43 sports.
On 5 October 2026, the Institute of International Relations of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan hosted an international conference entitled ‘Our National Heritage – A Solid Foundation for Our Independence’. This was reported by the press office of the Institute of International Relations of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan. The event was dedicated to the 35th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s independence, the motto for 2026 – ‘Independent Neutral Turkmenistan − the Homeland of Purposeful Winged Horses’ – and the International Day for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Participants discussed the preservation and promotion of the historical and cultural heritage of the Turkmen people, its significance for statehood, and the development of international cultural cooperation under the auspices of UNESCO. Representatives of UNESCO departments and clubs, as well as national commissions from foreign countries, took part in the conference via a digital platform. Presentations were given by representatives from Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Turkey. Representatives from the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan and the Central Council of the Magtymguly Youth Organisation of Turkmenistan also took part in the discussion. In conclusion, the participants adopted an Appeal to the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov.
A restaurant serving Slavic cuisine, decorated in a traditional Russian style, has opened in Ashgabat. The menu features national dishes, according to IIC of Turkmenistan. The idea for the restaurant came to its owner whilst he was living in Russia. After returning to Turkmenistan in April, he began work on the establishment in May. Renovation work was carried out and the menu prepared over the course of several months. The interior is decorated with traditional patterns and hand-embroidery. The waiters wear Russian costumes, whilst elements of the heating system are styled to resemble Russian stoves with samovars. Decorative salt cellars were crafted by local artists. The menu includes borscht, pelmeni and tea from a samovar. At the opening, guests were welcomed in traditional costumes with a loaf of bread and a performance by skomorokhi.
Letters of congratulations have been received by the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, to mark the 35th anniversary of the country’s independence. This was reported by the TDH news agency. In his letter, the President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, highlighted the friendly relations with Turkmenistan and expressed his readiness to develop cooperation in trade, energy, science, education and tourism. The President of the Republic of South Africa, Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, conveyed his congratulations and expressed his wish to strengthen the friendly ties between the two countries. The President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Iliana Iotova, emphasised the importance of developing bilateral dialogue with Turkmenistan and expressed an interest in expanding cooperation, including in the development of ties between Europe and Asia. King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia noted the friendly relations between the countries and expressed confidence in their further development at both the bilateral and multilateral levels. Natasa Pirc-Musar, President of the Republic of Slovenia, highlighted the mutual respect and trust in relations with Turkmenistan and spoke in favour of further deepening them. The Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, noted the positive momentum in the bilateral partnership and emphasised the importance of the President of Turkmenistan’s visit to Georgia for the development of cooperation.
UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany has congratulated the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and the people of the country on the 35th anniversary of independence. In his congratulatory letter, he highlighted the development of cooperation between Turkmenistan and UNESCO since the country joined the Organisation in 1993, according to the TDH news agency. According to the Director-General of UNESCO, this cooperation spans the fields of education, science, culture and communication. Khaled El-Enany also highlighted Turkmenistan’s contribution to international dialogue and multilateral cooperation, including the hosting of international conferences and forums. The Director-General of UNESCO emphasised the importance of partnership in the fields of education, digital innovation, scientific cooperation, sustainable development and the preservation of cultural heritage. Khaled El-Enany made special mention of Turkmenistan’s sites included on the World Heritage List, as well as ten nominations on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, including ‘The Art of Breeding Turkmen Alabay Dogs’. Khaled El-Enany expressed his hope for further strengthening of cooperation with Turkmenistan in support of peace, knowledge, cultural diversity and sustainable development.
The Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, has congratulated the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and the people of the country on Independence Day. This was reported by the news agency TDH. In his message, he wished the Head of Turkmenistan good health and well-being, and the Turkmen people continued prosperity. The OIC Secretary-General noted the Organisation’s close relations with Turkmenistan and expressed his gratitude for the support given to its activities. He also reaffirmed the OIC’s readiness to continue strengthening cooperation between the Organisation’s member states and expressed his hope for Turkmenistan’s continued contribution to strengthening solidarity amongst its members.
Sultan Raev, Secretary-General of the International Organisation of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), has congratulated the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and the people of the country on the 35th anniversary of independence. This was reported by the news agency TDH. In his message, the Secretary-General highlighted Turkmenistan’s significant achievements in the political, economic and social spheres, as well as the strengthening of the country’s position on the international stage as a reliable partner. Sultan Raev emphasised the steady development of cooperation between TURKSOY and Turkmenistan and wished the Head of State good health and well-being, and the Turkmen people peace, progress and prosperity.
An inter-ministerial training session on modern technologies for adapting to climate change and protecting the environment was held at the ‘Arçabil’ Hotel. The event was organised by the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Green Climate Fund, according to the news agency ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. The main focus of the meeting was the presentation and testing of a new digital tool for monitoring climate finance. Representatives from ministries and departments familiarised themselves with the platform’s capabilities, methods for collecting departmental statistics and the classification of expenditure. The digital system is designed to systematise data on environmental protection expenditure, improve the quality of reporting on greenhouse gas emissions and enhance government planning. The platform also enables the analysis of data relating to agriculture and forestry, and allows for the assessment of Turkmenistan’s contribution to fulfilling its obligations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. Following the training, experts highlighted the significant volume of domestic climate finance in Turkmenistan and the implementation of long-term national programmes in the field of sustainable development.
Last week, 10 transactions were concluded at the State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange of Turkmenistan. This was reported by the TDH news agency. Foreign companies from the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Kyrgyzstan purchased cotton fibre and cotton fabric worth over 9,509,000 US dollars. On the domestic market, local businesses purchased low-sulphur fuel oil from the ‘Türkmennebit’ State Concern and cotton yarn. The total value of the transactions exceeded 641,167,000 manats.
The President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, has congratulated the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and the people of the country on Independence Day. This was reported by the TDH news agency. In his message, he wished the Head of Turkmenistan good health and happiness, and the Turkmen people well-being and prosperity. Abdelmadjid Tebboune reaffirmed Algeria’s readiness to work together with Turkmenistan to develop and strengthen friendly relations, taking them to a new level in the interests of both nations.
The President of Georgia, Mikheil Kavelashvili, has congratulated the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and the people of the country on Independence Day. This was reported by the news agency TDH. In his message, he noted that Georgia attaches great importance to its relations with Turkmenistan, which are based on partnership, mutual trust and respect for national interests. Mikheil Kavelashvili expressed his confidence that bilateral cooperation would continue to deepen and strengthen, and wished Serdar Berdimuhamedov success in his state duties, and the people of Turkmenistan peace and prosperity.
During the Investment Forum in Ashgabat, Mahdi Heidari, Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance of the Islamic Republic of Iran, noted the strategic importance of the partnership with Turkmenistan, according to the ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’ news agency. According to him, the countries of the region are interested in forming a single economic space uniting the markets of Iran, Turkmenistan and Central Asia. The Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance of the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasised the role of the ‘North–South’ International Transport Corridor, the Middle Corridor and the development of logistical links between the Caspian region, the Persian Gulf and global trade routes. Iran, noted M. Heidari, is prepared to provide Turkmenistan and the countries of Central Asia with access to the ports of the Persian Gulf and the markets of the Middle East. The key areas of economic cooperation identified were energy, transit and logistics, agriculture and the food industry, as well as industrial investment.In the energy sector, the focus is on developing gas swap supplies, infrastructure for the transport, storage and processing of energy resources, and cooperation in the petrochemical industry. In the transit sector, it is proposed to modernise rail and road infrastructure, border terminals and logistics centres. Particular attention is paid to integrating the agricultural production of Central Asian countries with Iran’s processing and packaging capacities. Investments in free and special economic zones are cited as another area of focus. M. Heidari highlighted the experience gained by Iran and Turkmenistan in implementing joint projects. In his view, this should be built upon through new investment projects aimed at creating sustainable supply chains and strengthening regional economies. The Iranian side expressed its readiness to continue an open dialogue with Turkmenistan and international investors.