An important event in 2021, held under the motto "Turkmenistan is the Motherland of Peace and Trust", was the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, chaired by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in the Avaza National Tourist Zone.

Addressing the participants of the Summit, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov proposed to develop and submit for consideration to the heads of states of Central Asia a "Roadmap" for the implementation of previously reached agreements, which will determine the priorities of joint activities.

As the head of Turkmenistan noted further, energy is a key component of the economy of the Central Asian states. This is confirmed by the repeated and unanimous support by the states of the region for the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, initiated by our country, on the reliability and stability of energy supplies as an important factor in economic growth.

Obviously, partnership in the energy sector must be carried out through the active and full-scale participation of all Central Asian states without exception, and it should be aimed at creating a powerful energy infrastructure - both within the region and along its external perimeter. Based on the above, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stated that Turkmenistan is ready to significantly increase the volume of supplies of its natural gas to the countries of Central Asia or through their territories to foreign markets on mutually beneficial terms.

The supply of Turkmen natural gas to neighboring Uzbekistan, construction and operation of the international gas pipeline Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China are examples of effective cooperation in the gas industry. Currently, it is planned to intensify negotiations to discuss issues related to the design of a new gas pipeline Turkmenistan-China, which can also be laid through the territories of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Similar examples can be cited in the electric power industry. The capacities in the Lebap and Mary velayats of Turkmenistan make it possible to significantly increase the supply of electricity to the states of Central Asia.

The transport sector has been and remains an important vector of partnership between the Central Asian states. Speaking about this, the leader of the nation voiced a proposal to create a five-sided working group at the government level to study the possibilities of forming new transport and communication routes in the directions of Central Asia - the Caspian-Black Sea region with access to Southern Europe, as well as Central Asia - the Middle East.

Today, the most important task is to restore full-fledged trade and economic relations between our countries, increase the volume of mutual trade. In this regard, the head of Turkmenistan proposed to consider the issue of establishing a Business Council to promote economic and entrepreneurial activity in Central Asia.

Improving the environmental situation in Central Asia is also among the main issues of regional cooperation. First of all, we are talking about saving the Aral Sea, combating land degradation and desertification, preserving glaciers and rational use of water resources.

Specific proposals aimed at uniting efforts in the field of ensuring peace, security and stability, combating the pressing challenges of our time, strengthening regional cooperation in the political, trade, economic, investment, water and energy, transport, communication and cultural and humanitarian spheres were voiced at the Forum by the President Of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The Economic Forum of the Central Asian countries was also timed to coincide with the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, in which speeches were made by representatives of our country and foreign guests, covering a wide range of issues of mutually beneficial partnership in trade, economic, investment, industrial and transport and communication spheres.

Also, bilateral meetings were held between the heads of ministries and departments, state and private enterprises of Turkmenistan and their potential partners, during which they discussed promising areas of interaction and specific projects.

Representatives of the business community of our country have concluded 74 export-import contracts and agreements on cooperation, totaling about USD 131.5 million, with companies from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, including for the supply of agricultural and food products, plastic pipes, various polymer products, provision of transport services, etc.

On the sidelines of the Economic Forum of Central Asian countries, 11 interdepartmental documents were signed concerning cooperation in the field of transport, international container and multimodal cargo transportation, industry, oil and gas and electric power spheres. Among them is the Memorandum of Understanding between the Turkmenbashi complex of oil refineries and the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Tajikistan for the purchase of oil products and liquefied gas.

The Presidents of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan visited the International Exhibition of National Products of the countries of the region, organized at the International Seaport of the city of Turkmenbashi.

The stands presented reflected the successes achieved by the Central Asian countries in the development of key sectors of national economies, including the fuel and energy complex, construction, agriculture, transport and logistics, automotive, textile and food industries.

The current level of development of the country's fuel and energy complex is shown in the exposition of the Türkmengaz and Türkmennebit State Concerns, the Türkmengeologiýa State Corporation and the Turkmenbashi complex of oil refineries.

In terms of proven reserves of natural gas, Turkmenistan occupies one of the leading places in the world and today is one of the main suppliers of "blue fuel" in the Central Asian region. Due to its favorable geopolitical position and the richest hydrocarbon deposits, our country has great potential for increasing gas exports in various directions, including European and Asian markets.

For the economy of Turkmenistan, building up gas potential and diversifying energy supplies to world markets are of strategic importance. The policy pursued by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in the fuel and energy complex is aimed at efficient use of the potential of the oil and gas industry, the use of modernized technologies and methods of field development, active cooperation with foreign companies, development of hydrocarbon resources of the Turkmen sector and the coastal zone of the Caspian Sea.

By creating a favorable investment climate, all conditions for a successful business, Turkmenistan strives for long-term, mutually beneficial cooperation in the energy sector. Significant funds are invested in the development of the oil and gas complex, foreign investments are attracted for these purposes, projects of regional and international importance are being implemented.