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China has extended visa privileges for citizens of Turkmenistan until the end of 2026
29.12.2025China has extended the temporary reduction in visa fees for citizens of Turkmenistan. This was reported by the news website Asmannews. The relevant statement was published on 27 December by the Chinese Embassy in Turkmenistan. The preferential rates will remain in effect until 31 December 2026. Visa fees: single entry – $41, double entry – $56, multiple entry for six months – $206, multiple entry for one year – $386.
Mot shared his impressions of the warm welcome he received in Ashgabat
28.12.2025Russian rapper Mot (Matvey Melnikov), who arrived in Ashgabat for a concert on 28 December, said that he felt ‘at home’ in Turkmenistan. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. ‘We already felt your hospitable, warm embrace when we were greeted with loaves of bread in traditional attire,’ the artist said. He also emphasised that in 15 years of creative activity, this was his first visit to Ashgabat and he was glad to rectify that. Mot promised the audience a vivid musical experience at his upcoming performance at the Winter Sports Complex.
‘Arkadag’ Football Club wins the Turkmenistan Cup
28.12.2025The ‘Arkadag’ football club won the Turkmenistan Cup for the third time, finishing the season with maximum results and securing a treble. This was reported by the IIC. The team, led by Vladimir Bayramov, had previously become the national champion and Super Cup winner, and now added to its trophy collection with a cup victory. In the final match, ‘Arkadag’ defeated ‘Ahal’ with a score of 2:1. This final was the third in the history of the ‘Arkadag’ football club. After the final whistle, an award ceremony was held. In addition to the Turkmenistan Cup, the club's players were awarded medals for winning the national championship. The awards were presented to the winners by the Chairman of the Turkmenistan Football Federation, Guvanch Ovekov, Deputy Chairman Nazar Choliyev and representative of the State Committee for Physical Culture and Sports, Juma Jumayev.
Arash performed his first solo concert in Ashgabat
28.12.2025The first solo concert of popular Iranian singer Arash took place at the Winter Sports Complex in Ashgabat. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. Hundreds of fans gathered to listen to the author of such famous hits as ‘Boro Boro,’ ‘Broken Angel,’ ‘Pure Love,’ ‘One Night in Dubai,’ as well as the songs ‘Vostochnye skazki’ (Eastern fairy tales) and ‘Na morya’ (To the seas). The sports complex hall was overflowing with people: the audience enthusiastically welcomed the world-class artist.
The President of Turkmenistan announced consistent development of the country in 2025
28.12.2025At an expanded meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers and the State Security Council chaired by President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the results of 2025 – the International Year of Peace and Trust – were summarised and development priorities for the near future were outlined. This was reported by the publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. Speaking at the meeting, the Head of State emphasised that the outgoing year was a landmark one and ‘will forever go down in the history of independent, neutral Turkmenistan.’ According to the President of Turkmenistan, the key international event was the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the country's Permanent Neutrality. President Serdar Berdimuhamedov reported that in 2025, 44 meetings of the Cabinet of Ministers, 11 meetings of the State Security Council and 24 state meetings were held, during which strategic issues of domestic and foreign policy were discussed. He noted that during this period, new laws were adopted aimed at further prosperity of the state. The Head of State also announced the maintenance of high growth rates in all sectors of the national economy. According to him, salaries, pensions, social benefits and student scholarships were financed in full and on time. ‘The life of the people has become more prosperous and happier,’ the President noted, emphasising that the construction of industrial, social and cultural facilities and large residential complexes continues in all regions of the country.
WHO national meeting on pandemic influenza held in Awaza
28.12.2025The World Health Organisation's country office in Turkmenistan held its annual national meeting on the implementation of the ‘Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Mechanism’. This was reported by the news resource Turkmenportal. The event was held in the ‘Awaza’ National Tourist Zone with the support of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan. The key objective of the meeting was to strengthen national capacity for epidemiological surveillance of influenza and to increase preparedness for possible pandemic threats. The meeting was attended by representatives of relevant medical institutions, specialists in epidemiology and virology, as well as experts from veterinary services. Participants discussed the results of the Mechanism's implementation for 2025 and the current indicators of its implementation. Particular attention was paid to issues of improving pandemic preparedness, updating national response plans, and exchanging experience on the development of surveillance systems and the improvement of influenza monitoring programmes. The meeting was held as part of the Partnership Contribution to the Implementation of the ‘Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Mechanism’ project.
Hero Arkadag congratulated the President of Turkmenistan on the announcement of the motto for 2026
28.12.2025The National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov sent congratulations to the President of Turkmenistan on the proclamation of 2026 as the Year of ‘Independent Neutral Turkmenistan − the Homeland of Purposeful Winged Horses’. This was reported by the state news agency TDH. The message emphasises that the Turkmen people are welcoming the new year in a spirit of spiritual uplift and with the results achieved in 2025. Among the key events mentioned are the celebration of the 34th anniversary of Turkmenistan's independence and the 30th anniversary of its permanent neutrality, as well as the results of the International Year of Peace and Trust. The greeting also notes the role of the Ahal-Teke horse as an important element of national heritage. It refers to the opening of the Aba Annayev International Academy of Horse Breeding in the city of Arkadag, as well as the successes of the ‘Galkynysh’ National Equestrian Games Group at international festivals. In conclusion, Hero Arkadag expressed confidence in the further development of the country and wished the President of Turkmenistan good health and success in his activities for the benefit of the state.
Rare bats were exhibited in Turkmenistan
28.12.2025A new exhibition dedicated to rare species of bats has opened at the State Museum of the State Cultural Centre of Turkmenistan. Using 3D printing, models of the common long-winged bat, Blasius's horseshoe bat and the southern horseshoe bat, which inhabit the Kov-Ata cave, have been created, according to the news website Turkmenportal, citing the newspaper ‘Neutral Turkmenistan’. There are 19 species of bats in the country, which play an important role in the ecosystem. For example, the colony in the Baherden cave destroys about 1.5 million insects per night, including mosquitoes and agricultural pests. These animals navigate in the dark using echolocation. Scientists note seasonal migrations: the colony in Kov-Ata stays from February to October, then moves to other regions. Blasius's horseshoe bats live in northern Khorasan in Iran in winter, about 100 km from the border. Bat populations are declining due to the use of chemicals in agriculture. Six species are already listed in the Red Book of Turkmenistan. Zoologists emphasise the importance of protecting them as part of the natural environment.
Turkish pharmaceutical company signs export contract with Turkmenistan
27.12.2025Turkish pharmaceutical company ‘Türk İlaç ve Serum Sanayi A.Ş.’ (TRILC) has signed an export contract worth $4.994 million with the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, according to a report published on 26 December on the KAP platform, as reported by the online publication ‘Business Turkmenistan’. The Agreement provides for the supply of medicines and serums, with deliveries and payments to be completed by February 2026. The order has already been officially received, and production and logistics will be carried out according to schedule. TRILC, based in Ankara, manufactures a wide range of medicines and is also involved in the import, marketing and representation of pharmaceutical, veterinary and cosmetic products.
The UN adopted two resolutions on the initiative of Turkmenistan
27.12.2025The UN General Assembly unanimously approved two Resolutions proposed by Turkmenistan: ‘The Key Role of Reliable and Stable Energy Connectivity in Ensuring Sustainable Development’ and ‘The UN Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026-2035)’, according to the news website Turkmenportal. This was announced by Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Affairs Minister of Turkmenistan, at an expanded meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers and the State Security Council. During his speech, Rashid Meredov congratulated President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov on the country's foreign policy victory. In response, the Head of State expressed gratitude on behalf of the entire Turkmen people to all countries that supported Turkmenistan's initiatives and emphasised the country's readiness to continue active cooperation with the UN. The meeting also noted that 2025 was a year of significant events for Turkmenistan, including the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the country's Permanent Neutrality. Over the past year, 44 meetings of the Cabinet of Ministers, 11 meetings of the State Security Council and 24 state meetings were held to discuss key issues of domestic and foreign policy. According to the government, the national economy showed high growth rates in all sectors. Salaries, pensions, state benefits and student scholarships were paid on time. In addition, new laws were adopted to promote the development of the state.
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan strengthen cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector
27.12.2025The pharmaceutical industry of Turkmenistan is strengthening regional cooperation: an agreement has been signed in Tashkent combining the scientific potential of Uzbek universities and investments from Turkmen businesses. This was reported by the news agency Orient. The document provides for the joint production of medicines, technology transfer and the training of Turkmen personnel at relevant educational institutions in Uzbekistan. The key partner is the Pharmaceutical Technical University within the framework of ‘Tashkent Pharma Park,’ a modern international-level educational, scientific and production cluster. The ‘Altyn Kanun Maslahat’ division will be responsible for project support, providing consulting and support to businesses and students. The partnership will allow Turkmenistan, which is developing a medical cluster in Arkadag, to integrate more quickly into the regional drug safety system and build on existing development models.
The UN unanimously supported Turkmenistan's initiatives on energy and transport
27.12.2025In 2025, Turkmenistan significantly strengthened the political and legal foundations of international cooperation. This was announced by Foreign Affairs Minister Rashid Meredov, speaking at the ceremony ‘International Year of Peace and Trust: Steadfast steps of Neutral Turkmenistan,’ according to the state news agency ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. A key result of the year was the unanimous adoption by the UN General Assembly of a number of resolutions put forward on the initiative of Turkmenistan. They were co-authored by dozens of states, which testifies to broad international support and recognition of the country's foreign policy initiatives. The adoption of two UN General Assembly resolutions on 15 December 2025 was noted separately: ‘The Key Role of Reliable and Stable Energy Connectivity in Ensuring Sustainable Development’ and ‘The UN Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026-2035)’. These documents are aimed at strengthening global energy security and forming long-term guidelines for the development of international transport corridors. According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the resolutions are practical in nature and provide for specific implementation mechanisms, including analysis of the current situation in the energy and logistics sectors, the activities of specialised UN structures created on the initiative of Turkmenistan, and the development of infrastructure ensuring connectivity at the national, regional and global levels. The decisions taken have formed a solid legal basis for the development of international energy and transport interconnectivity and confirmed Turkmenistan's active participation in the development of solutions to key issues of sustainable development.
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