Turkmen-Uzbek Political Consultations Held in Ashgabat

On July 14, 2026, Ashgabat hosted another round of political consultations between the foreign policy agencies of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan. The Turkmen delegation was headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov, and the Uzbek delegation by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Bakhtiyor Saidov.

During the consultations, the parties held a detailed exchange of views on further strengthening the Turkmen-Uzbek strategic partnership, reviewing the current state and prospects of bilateral political and diplomatic engagement. It was noted that mutual visits, meetings, and talks at the highest level remain the key factor in strengthening cooperation.

Particular attention was paid to sustaining an active political dialogue at the bilateral level, as well as to coordinating engagement within international and regional organizations — primarily the UN, the CIS, the OIC, the ECO, and the Non-Aligned Movement. The parties reaffirmed their mutual readiness to continue supporting each other's international initiatives and to align approaches on pressing issues on the regional and global agenda.

The sides underscored the importance of consistently improving the treaty and legal framework of bilateral relations, intensifying inter-parliamentary and inter-regional ties, and expanding direct contacts between the relevant ministries and agencies of the two countries.

Within the bilateral agenda, the parties discussed in detail the practical implementation and organizational preparations for international events to be held in Turkmenistan this year.

A separate segment of the talks was devoted to trade and economic cooperation. The parties emphasized the need to further diversify mutual trade, expand investment cooperation, and enhance the effectiveness of the Joint Turkmen-Uzbek Commission on Trade-Economic, Scientific-Technical, and Cultural Cooperation.

The prospects for developing transport and transit connectivity, establishing new international transport corridors, improving logistics infrastructure, and deepening cooperation in industry, agriculture, energy, and the digital economy were reviewed in substance.

Considerable attention was given to cultural and humanitarian cooperation as an important factor in bringing the two peoples closer together. The parties noted positive momentum in cooperation in education, science, culture, healthcare, youth policy, and sport, and affirmed their interest in expanding humanitarian exchanges, holding joint cultural events, and implementing new projects aimed at strengthening the traditional bonds of friendship and good-neighborliness between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan.

On the same day, a ceremony was held for the signing of bilateral documents intended to significantly strengthen the treaty and legal framework of interstate partnership.

The following documents were signed:

• Agreement between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Cooperation in Ensuring International Information Security;
• Cooperation Program between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2027–2028.