Today, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov took part in a meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States, which was held in the format of a video conference.

The meeting, chaired by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, was also attended by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev,

Acting President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Toraga Jogorku Kenesha (Speaker of Parliament) Talant Mamytov, President of Moldova Igor Dodon, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon.

According to the State News Agency of Turkmenistan, a wide range of issues related to the results of joint work done this year, further development of effective partnership in the format of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the adoption of a number of documents regulating the interaction of CIS countries in various spheres.

In his speech at the meeting, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov reaffirmed the proactive position of neutral Turkmenistan in developing balanced and comprehensive approaches to realizing the multifaceted potential of interstate cooperation that meets the interests of common prosperity and progress.

Addressing the participants of the meeting, the leader of the nation expressed gratitude to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev for organizing this meeting, noting the great personal contribution of the head of the neighboring state to the successful chairmanship of Uzbekistan in the CIS in 2020.

- Traditionally, at the end of the year we sum up the results of our joint activities within the CIS, exchange views on the work in the coming period, - the President of Turkmenistan further noted, while highlighting that, despite the known objective difficulties, the Commonwealth countries managed to carry out most of the planned joint activities.

As an example, the leader of the nation Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov cited the meetings of the Councils of Heads of Government, Foreign Ministers, the Economic Council, during which strategic directions of interaction in various fields were discussed and important documents were adopted.

Among them, the head of Turkmenistan highlighted the CIS Economic Development Strategy until 2030. The Turkmen side assesses this document as timely and relevant, notes its specificity, the clarity of the long-term goals and objectives specified in it and is ready to work together to implement them.

As the leader of the nation emphasized, the above Strategy is based on the principles of the Declaration on Strategic Economic Cooperation of the CIS Member States, adopted at a meeting of the Council of Heads of State in Ashgabat in October last year.

In this context, it is noteworthy that among the priorities of the economic partnership of the Commonwealth countries, such areas as transport, the fuel and energy complex, communications and communications, industrial cooperation, trade, innovation and technology are highlighted.

“These are the areas where we have something to offer each other, as well as partners outside the CIS”, Berdymukhamedov stated.

“In general, Turkmenistan is in favor of imparting a new quality to our cooperation, the transition to long-term systemic interaction,” the head of state continued, expressing his conviction that the current potential of the Commonwealth allows us to talk about the possibilities of implementing significant projects in these promising sectors.

At the same time, the Turkmen leader emphasized that the territories of the CIS countries can become the main routes of economic partnership on the continent, in a broad sense, connecting links along the Europe-Asia line.

In this aspect, the President of Turkmenistan emphasized the importance of promoting the economic interests of the CIS beyond the geographical boundaries of the Commonwealth, integrating neighboring countries and neighboring regions into joint projects. First of all, this concerns the creation of transport and transit infrastructure, the optimization and expansion of energy supplies, the laying of new transmission lines and communications.

In particular, the head of state continued, great opportunities for cooperation in these areas are seen in the Caspian region, including the creation of a modern combined logistics system here with the participation of states that do not have direct access to the World Ocean.

In this context, the leader of the nation proposed to consider the prospects for using the International Seaport of the city of Turkmenbashi, as well as the modern merchant fleet of Turkmenistan.

Last year, during the first Caspian Economic Forum in the city of Turkmenbashi, the conceptual foundations of multilateral cooperation in the Caspian were laid, concrete steps were outlined to give it a long-term character. Many states and large foreign companies are interested in participating in it.

“We believe that the Caspian direction should take its proper place in the plans of the Commonwealth, be considered as a zone of priority economic partnership,” the head of Turkmenistan noted.

Continuing his speech, the Turkmen leader marked that the outgoing year had passed under the sign of the fight against coronavirus infection, becoming a serious test for the health systems of the CIS countries.

As President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized, in these difficult conditions, the Commonwealth states were able to quickly establish channels of interaction through medical, sanitary, customs and other services, showing high responsibility, solidarity and mutual support in the face of a new challenge.

Taking this opportunity, the head of state expressed sincere gratitude to President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin for his great personal contribution to solving this universal problem, which increased the authority of the Russian leader in the international arena.

“I am convinced that we should be guided by these principles in the coming period of combating the pandemic and overcoming its consequences,” the head of Turkmenistan noted. - In this regard, our country expects a substantive consideration of the specific measures it has proposed in the UN to establish mechanisms for scientific and medical cooperation, the creation of international specialized centers in which the latest methods and practices of countering dangerous viral infections would be developed.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed the opinion that the Commonwealth states could take a proactive role in this work, set an example of effective cooperation, exchange of experience, joint developments in the field of medicine.

As the leader of the nation emphasized, in general, Turkmenistan is convinced of the need for closer interaction and consolidation of the efforts of the CIS countries on the world stage, in the largest international structures, primarily in the UN.

Today, against the background of difficult events in world politics, the Turkmen leader continued, the Commonwealth states could make a significant contribution to stabilizing the situation, restoring and strengthening the role of international law and the UN Charter, and helping to create an atmosphere of trust and predictability in relations between states.

Speaking about this, the President of Turkmenistan emphasized the importance of adopting a joint Statement of the heads of the CIS member states in connection with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations.

As you know, at the initiative of our country, 2021 was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly as the International Year of Peace and Trust. The Turkmen side, the head of state continued, considers this decision as a good reason for the resumption of a serious, responsible dialogue on the issues of the modern world order and international relations, suggesting to think together about filling it with practical and concrete content.

In this context, having informed that next year in Ashgabat it is planned to hold a high-level international conference dedicated to strengthening peace, security and ensuring sustainable development, the President of Turkmenistan invited the leaders of the CIS countries to take part in this Forum.

A few days ago, Turkmenistan marked a significant date in its modern history - the 25th anniversary of the international recognition of the status of permanent neutrality. Taking this opportunity, the leader of the nation thanked the heads of state who sent congratulations to our country and people.

“This position is for us a great support and stimulus for the development of international cooperation on the principles of good-neighborliness and peacefulness, confirms the loyalty of the chosen foreign policy course of Turkmenistan, its compliance with the long-term interests and goals of the CIS,” the head of the Turkmen state stressed.

In this regard, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov spoke in favor of continuing the practice of mutual support in the UN General Assembly. During its current session, Turkmenistan put forward a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening the role of preventive diplomacy and the implementation of the principles of neutrality in resolving international issues.

The leader of the nation said that our country, is grateful to those Commonwealth states that have joined its initiative to create in the UN a Group of Friends of Neutrality in the name of peace, security and development and highly appreciates their position.

“Turkmenistan is convinced that the CIS has a great potential in economic and social development, humanitarian and cultural cooperation, in a positive impact on regional and global processes,” the head of state noted. - The Commonwealth is proving its viability, ability to responsibly deal with challenges and threats, its relevance as an important instrument of interstate dialogue.

Speaking about this, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov reaffirmed the invariable focus of our country on continuing close cooperation within the CIS, actively participating in the implementation of the provisions of the signed documents.

Concluding his speech, the head of Turkmenistan expressed gratitude to Uzbekistan for the skillful chairmanship of the CIS in 2020 and wished success to the Republic of Belarus, which is taking over the chairmanship next year.

The leader of the nation also addressed words of gratitude to the head of the Executive Committee - CIS Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev for effective coordination of joint work and contribution to the successful holding of this meeting.

Congratulating the participants of the meeting with the coming New Year, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov wished everyone good health and success, and the peoples of the Commonwealth states - peace, well-being and prosperity.

During the meeting of the Council of CIS Heads of State, issues were considered about the Concept for the further development of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Plan of the main measures for its implementation, inter-parliamentary cooperation of the CIS countries, as well as the chairmanship of the CIS of the Republic of Belarus in 2021.

Following the meeting, a number of agreed documents were signed, including - Decision on the development and strengthening of inter-parliamentary cooperation of the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States;

Decision on the chairmanship of the Commonwealth of Independent States in 2021; Decision on a Joint Statement by the Heads of the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations; Decision on a Joint Statement by the Heads of the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States on cooperation in the field of ensuring international information security; Decision on the implementation in 2022 of the Interstate Program “Cultural Capitals of the Commonwealth” in the Kyrgyz Republic; The decision to declare in the Commonwealth of Independent States 2022 the Year of Folk Art and Cultural Heritage, 2023 - the Year of the Russian language as a language of interethnic communication.