A meeting between Turkmenistan's Foreign Affairs Minister Rashid Meredov and Shombi Sharp, Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), was held in Ashgabat on 22 January. This was reported by the press service of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan.

During the negotiations, the parties discussed the current state and prospects of cooperation between Turkmenistan and ESCAP. The Turkmen side noted the high level of partnership and positively assessed the results of joint work in priority areas, including sustainable development, transport and energy, disaster risk reduction, as well as cooperation within the framework of SPECA.

Turkmenistan's commitment to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and actively participating in the activities of the UN Economic and Social Council and relevant forums was reaffirmed. Particular attention was paid to issues of digitalisation, the development of paperless trade, the introduction of the ‘Single Window’ principle and the expansion of practical cooperation with ESCAP institutions.

The Turkmen side expressed its gratitude to ESCAP for supporting the country's international and regional initiatives, including resolutions aimed at sustainable development and addressing environmental issues, including the problems of the Aral Sea.

At the end of the meeting, the parties confirmed their readiness to further deepen constructive and mutually beneficial cooperation.