The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan took part in a meeting with Prince Edward

On 25 February 2026, a meeting was held at Lancaster House, the Government building of the UK Foreign Office, between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov, and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh. During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on further strengthening Turkmen-British ties, emphasizing their steady development, particularly in the fields of culture and education.

At a joint working lunch of the foreign ministers of the Central Asian countries, attended by Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, the significance of the upcoming first ministerial meeting in the “Central Asia – United Kingdom” format was noted as an important step in strengthening multilateral cooperation.

The Turkmen side expressed gratitude for the warm reception and highlighted its respect for the United Kingdom as a state with a unique cultural and diplomatic heritage. The considerable potential for expanding cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere, alongside the development of political and economic interaction, was emphasized.

Special attention was drawn to the strong interest in Turkmenistan in studying the English language and British culture, as well as to the importance of educational and academic exchanges, including the Chevening program.

As examples of the intensification of cultural dialogue, the holding of a Scottish dance evening “Ceilidh” in Ashgabat, the installation of a monument to William Shakespeare in the capital of Turkmenistan, and the release of a BBC documentary film about the leopards of the Kopetdag were cited.