On October 10, as part of his working visit to the Republic of Tajikistan, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov took part in the regular meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
The meeting, chaired by the President of Tajikistan, was also attended by the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and the Russian Federation, the Prime Minister of Armenia, and the CIS Secretary General.
In his opening remarks, the President of Turkmenistan noted that despite current global political challenges, the CIS continues to serve as a platform for respectful and equal cooperation. The organization fosters structured dialogue among its members in areas such as foreign policy, economy, trade, and humanitarian affairs.
Highlighting economic cooperation as a priority within the CIS, President Berdimuhamedov stressed the importance of strengthening the economic and industrial potential of the Commonwealth under current geo-economic conditions. He emphasized that turning the CIS into a strong and attractive partner for other countries and organizations is an urgent task.
"Our main reference point should be the CIS Economic Development Strategy until 2030. Turkmenistan believes it must be fully implemented, supported by the political leadership of our countries, and considered a strategic goal of joint development and cooperation," the President stated.
Continuing on this theme, Serdar Berdimuhamedov referred to the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, held in Turkmenistan in August 2024, where Caspian Sea connectivity was a key topic. He emphasized that the Caspian transit and logistics potential has taken on a global dimension, with key East-West and North-South routes—linking the Asia-Pacific region with Europe and the Middle East—passing through the Caspian region.
"CIS countries should take an active part in shaping the Caspian logistics hub, securing their positions in this project on a mutually beneficial and coordinated basis," he said, reaffirming Turkmenistan’s readiness to cooperate and to offer the use of its port infrastructure on the Caspian Sea for joint interests.
The President also highlighted the importance of mutual trade, creation of industrial and technological chains, and joint production projects involving CIS member states.
He further underlined the need to focus on technology and innovation, calling for the launch of practical technological partnerships, systematic knowledge-sharing, and skills exchange to boost the CIS’s economic dynamism and competitiveness.
President Berdimuhamedov reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s commitment to broad cooperation within the CIS in the fields of culture, science, education, and sports, and expressed the country’s intention to support and promote such ties.
This year, Turkmenistan marks the 30th anniversary of its status of permanent neutrality, an event of historical significance. The CIS countries played a crucial role in the international recognition of this status, actively supporting it at the UN and in other international platforms. Taking this opportunity, the President extended an official invitation to CIS leaders to attend the anniversary celebrations in Ashgabat on December 12, as well as the International Forum for Peace and Trust, noting that their participation would be a valuable contribution to the success of these significant events and would be deeply appreciated by the Turkmen people.
At the conclusion of the meeting, it was officially announced that Turkmenistan will assume the chairmanship of the CIS in 2026 and will host the next CIS Heads of State Council meeting in the country on October 9 next year.
