On December 26, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov paid a working visit to St. Petersburg to participate in the traditional informal Summit of the Heads of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Conversation with the Russian Ambassador to Turkmenistan

Before leaving Ashgabat International Airport for St. Petersburg, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov had a brief conversation with the Russian Ambassador to Turkmenistan Ivan Volynkin.

The parties positively assessed the effective nature of the strategic partnership between the two countries and emphasized the importance of further deepening cooperation. Confidence was also expressed that the upcoming participation of the President of Turkmenistan in the meeting of CIS leaders will contribute to the expansion of bilateral ties and the development of multilateral partnerships within the Commonwealth.

Participants of the next informal CIS Summit

Along with the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the Summit was attended by the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The Summit was hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Main events of the Summit

The next informal Summit of the heads of the CIS countries was held in the Palace of Congresses complex in the Konstantinovsky Palace. At the beginning of the meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin provided a brief analysis of the results of the work carried out within the Commonwealth in 2023 and outlined the key areas for further cooperation.

During the meeting, the importance of giving the traditional partnership within the Commonwealth a qualitatively new content, based on common goals and objectives, was emphasized. The need to create mechanisms for systemic political consultations, taking into account the accumulated positive experience, was also noted.

During the discussion of cooperation priorities for the near and long term, the leaders expressed confidence that the decisions and agreements made this year will contribute to the deepening of interstate relations in the CIS in the interests of the peoples of the Commonwealth countries.

In general, issues on the regional and international agenda were discussed at the meeting. The next Summit became another confirmation of the desire of the CIS states to continue to build cooperation in the spirit of strategic partnership and mutual benefit.

Cooperation of Turkmenistan with the CIS

Neutral Turkmenistan actively participates in resolving global issues, contributing to peace and security. Particular attention is paid to dialogue within international organizations.

Being an associated member of the CIS, Turkmenistan builds equal and mutually beneficial relations with the states of the Commonwealth. This helps strengthen ties and implement joint projects. Turkmenistan strives to strengthen its strategic partnership in the CIS. This is confirmed by the regular participation of the President of Turkmenistan in CIS Summits and the promotion of initiatives that are in demand over time.

Cultural program

Before the start of the Summit, the distinguished guests also visited the sights of St. Petersburg. In particular, they got acquainted with the exhibitions of the Pavlovsk State Museum-Reserve, the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum-Reserve in the city of Pushkin, and the Peterhof State Museum-Reserve.