On 7 October, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov took part in a meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS), which was held in Gabala (Azerbaijan), according to the news website Asmannews.

The high-level session began with a welcoming speech by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and became a platform for discussing key issues of cooperation between Turkic countries.

During his speech, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the main tasks of the OTS remain the strengthening of unity, friendship and brotherhood between the member states, as well as the coordination of joint actions on the international arena.

The National Leader of the Turkmen people stressed the importance of coordinated action in the current difficult stage of development of the world community, noting that strengthening peace, stability and trust is a priority.

It was also noted that, on the initiative of Turkmenistan, the UN General Assembly declared 2025 the ‘International Year of Peace and Trust.’ In this regard, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov invited all summit participants to take part in the international forum to be held on 12 December in Ashgabat.

‘Our culture, language and traditions are united. This commonality is based on historical truth,’ said the National Leader of the Turkmen people, emphasising the importance of the political and cultural heritage of the Turkmen as descendants of the Oguz in world history.

Confirming Turkmenistan's priority attention to the development of cooperation with the OTS countries, Hero Arkadag highlighted the special role of cultural and humanitarian activities.

The Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty called for continuing the practice of holding Culture Days, exhibitions, film days, as well as expanding academic exchanges and creating scholarship programmes for the joint study of the history and heritage of fraternal peoples.