Distinguished Chairman of the People's Republic of China,

distinguished heads of state and government, distinguished members of delegations,

First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to the esteemed Chairman of the People's Republic of China, Mr. Xi Jinping, for the invitation to participate in the current Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit as an honorary guest, for the warm hospitality and excellent working conditions.

Turkmenistan's participation in SCO Summits as an honorary guest has become a long-standing good tradition. In our opinion, this speaks of mutual interest in developing and deepening partnership.

Turkmenistan has great respect for the SCO and follows its activities attentively and with goodwill. We note the constructive role of the Shanghai Organization in continental and global processes, its great contribution to the establishment of a fair and balanced system of modern world order.

Today, during the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in the “SCO+ format”, the Chairman of the People's Republic of China, the esteemed Mr. Xi Jinping, made a new internationally significant proposal – the Global Governance Initiative.

This idea coincides with Turkmenistan’s conceptual vision of the process of further improving the architecture of international relations, their collective management, based on the principles of equality, justice and mutual respect.

The SCO's fundamental approaches to strengthening international and regional stability, creating conditions for political and diplomatic dialogue as the basis for interstate relations and resolving complex issues evoke understanding and support.

In this context, I would like to emphasize the Organization's consistently constructive position on Turkmenistan's foreign policy, our neutrality, and international initiatives. It would be appropriate to note that the states currently part of the Shanghai Organization supported and co-authored the UN General Assembly resolutions on Turkmenistan's neutrality, as well as a number of other UN decisions proposed by our country. I am saying this with special feeling and gratitude today, on the eve of a historic date – the 30th anniversary of the international recognition of Turkmenistan’s neutrality, which will be celebrated on December 12 of this year. We will be glad to see high delegations of all the states of the Shanghai Organization at the upcoming celebrations in Ashgabat.

Dear participants,

The defining vector of relations between Turkmenistan and the SCO is the economic sphere.

Among the priorities, we highlight transport and logistics, communications, energy, trade, and industrial cooperation.

The presence of a vast resource base, the advantages of a geographical location, the dynamic development of industry and infrastructure, the accumulated experience of interaction - all this objectively contributes to economic rapprochement and joint development, the realization of the combined potential, the creation of large economic hubs of continental, and in the future, global significance in the SCO space and the territory of Turkmenistan. I am convinced that various formats and models of business partnership between Turkmenistan and the SCO can complement and enrich bilateral ties, expand the horizons of cooperation on a long-term and mutually beneficial basis, and create practical prerequisites for planning and implementing large regional and international projects.

Here I would like to particularly highlight the transport component. We believe that today there are real opportunities to build a logistics highway along the East-West and North-South lines, in which the SCO countries and Turkmenistan are called upon to become key links. The targeted unification of efforts and potentials, the mobilization of political, diplomatic and economic resources will mean a qualitatively new stage not only in the development of our cooperation.

It is capable of creating conditions for the formation of a holistic geoeconomic space from the Pacific Ocean to the Baltic, including large and dynamically developing economic zones – the Asia-Pacific region, Central and South Asia, Russia, the Middle and Near East. In this regard, it would be logical and justified to establish closer practical cooperation with the participation of Turkmenistan and the SCO, to coordinate transport strategies based on an understanding of our objective advantages, mutual benefit and successful integration into the global geoeconomics.

It is worth highlighting the trans-Caspian and Caspian routes. We proceed from the fact that the interests of the SCO as an organization and Turkmenistan coincide here and have a high degree of compatibility. I believe that our common task is to translate them into practical channels. We see the Caspian corridors - vertically and horizontally - as a real chance to radically increase the efficiency and return on our economic and production capabilities, full-fledged access to world markets, and the establishment and consolidation of long-term and strong positions in the Eurasian geo-economic space.

The most important aspect is the favorable political and legal climate for transportation in the Caspian Sea, which opens up good prospects for participation in trade and economic activities in the Caspian Sea by the states of the Shanghai Organization.

As is known, at the 3rd UN Conference for Landlocked Developing Countries held recently in Turkmenistan, the importance of the Caspian as the shortest and most advantageous route was discussed in detail. A number of SCO states participated in this Forum at the highest level, for which I would like to once again express my sincere gratitude to them. We hope that this topic will find its continuation in this format of communication.

In this regard, I would like to draw your attention to the possibilities of the International Sea Port of Turkmenbashy. We are ready for a practical dialogue on the use of this multifunctional terminal in the interests of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Speaking about sea transportation, it would be appropriate, in our opinion, to initiate cooperation in shipbuilding. Many SCO countries have serious production capacities and rich experience in this area. Turkmenistan is also actively developing national shipbuilding and I believe that partnership in this industry can bring tangible mutual benefits.

We attach exceptional importance to the creation of a modern, extensive railway and road network in Central Asia and neighboring regions. Our country, together with partners, initiated the construction of railways in Afghanistan. There are other large-scale initiatives. We see real opportunities to establish long-term planning and cooperation in the field of railway and road transportation. We are ready to present our proposals.

In the field of communications and communications, Turkmenistan, in cooperation with some SCO member states, is currently implementing large projects to lay a fiber-optic communication line through Afghanistan to Pakistan. We invite the Organization to actively participate in expanding the geography and increasing capacity, and implementing new large-scale projects.

We advocate closer cooperation in the energy sector. Turkmenistan is ready to increase the volume of natural gas supplies to the SCO countries. Today, we also focus on electric power. We are open to discussing the practical aspects of electricity supplies, expanding directions and volumes. In general, we consider the electric power industry as one of the priorities of cooperation with the SCO.

Another area of possible application of joint efforts is industrial cooperation. I believe that the positive dynamics of economic growth inherent in our countries, the growing number of new industrial facilities, the expansion of the range of goods and services produced - all this should be embodied in the process of economic partnership. We are ready to take part in the industrial cooperation strategy.

Dear participants,

At the beginning of my speech, I mentioned the humanitarian sphere. Historical experience, closeness of values, loyalty to original traditions and foundations, sincere good neighborliness and respect for each other - this is the foundation of our cooperation, a common great asset that we protect and increase. Therefore, the development of humanitarian cooperation between our countries, strengthening of cultural, scientific, educational and other ties in the social sphere will always be of particular importance. We are convinced of their necessity and very significant role.

Turkmenistan considers today's meeting at the highest state level an important step in developing its relations with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Turkmenistan is committed to practical steps to realize joint opportunities in common interests, strengthen friendship, good neighborliness and trust.

I once again express my gratitude for the invitation to this important Summit.

(Tianjin, September 1, 2025)