Today, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov arrived on a working visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to participate in the summit of the heads of states of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) and the countries of Central Asia. The high-level meeting to be held on July 19 in the city of Jeddah is designed to promote the further development of effective interstate and interregional cooperation that meets the interests of common prosperity and progress, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan reports.

In the conversation of the head of state with a representative of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia before the departure in the air harbor of Ashgabat, the invariably friendly nature of bilateral relations, dynamically developing across the spectrum, was stated. Along with mutually beneficial trade and economic ties, great importance is attached to fruitful cultural and humanitarian contacts. Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia also interact constructively within the framework of authoritative international and regional organizations and structures. In this context, confidence was expressed that the current visit and participation of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in the summit in the GCC + Central Asia format will serve to intensify a productive partnership both on a bilateral and multilateral basis.

Having flown to Jeddah, the presidential airliner landed at the King Abdulaziz International Airport, where the State flags of the countries of the Persian Gulf and Central Asia were hoisted on flagpoles. A guard of honor was lined up on both sides of the carpet path leading from the plane's gangway.

At the airport, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov was warmly welcomed by officials.

Here, over a cup of tea, the head of Turkmenistan had a conversation with the official representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during which the high level of interstate dialogue was noted with satisfaction, and the mutual intention of the two countries to continue to strengthen the ties of friendship and mutually beneficial partnership with solid potential was emphasized. Confidence was expressed that the forthcoming summit would contribute to uniting efforts in order to bring multilateral cooperation to qualitatively new frontiers. Thanking for the cordial welcome given on the sacred land of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that Turkmenistan, for its part, is ready to further promote the expansion of effective cooperation and enrichment of its content.

From the airport, the head of state left for the residence allotted for the duration of the working visit.

The GCC+Central Asia Summit, on the agenda of which are topical issues of interstate cooperation in the interregional dimension, will be chaired by the Crown Prince, Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. It is expected that the heads of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, as well as the GCC - Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Saudi Arabia will take part in it.

The platform in the GCC + Central Asia format was created in order to expand the political dialogue between the states involved and develop interregional cooperation in trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres. It is aimed at streamlining and imparting a long-term character and stability to the entire range of relations between the participating countries.

In September 2022, the first ministerial meeting of the GCC + Central Asia Strategic Dialogue was held in Riyadh. The event was attended by the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.