A formal reception was held at the ‘Ýyldyz’ Hotel in Ashgabat to mark France’s national holiday, Bastille Day. The event was attended by Nazar Agahanov, Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan, as well as representatives of European and other foreign diplomatic missions, according to the news website Turkmenportal.

In his welcoming address, Philippe Merlin, the French Ambassador to Turkmenistan, referred to the recent G7 summit in Evian and elaborated on key aspects of the bilateral partnership.

The diplomat emphasised that the visit to Paris in 2025 by the National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, had given a powerful boost to economic ties. The diplomat thanked leading French companies operating successfully in the Turkmen market in the fields of construction, space, energy and agriculture.

Particular attention was paid in the speech to humanitarian cooperation. The Ambassador noted that, due to the support of the country’s Ministry of Education, around 20,000 Turkmen citizens are studying French. Furthermore, the two sides are successfully continuing joint archaeological excavations at the Ulug-Depe site, speleological research in Koytendag and cultural projects organised by the French Institute. To conclude his speech, Philippe Merlin quoted Charles de Gaulle and called for the further active development of bilateral relations.