Murat Nurtleu, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, recently met with Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, who was in Astana on an official visit.
The two officials held discussions on a wide range of issues concerning Kazakh-Turkmen cooperation, including potential collaboration in the political, trade, economic, transit-transport, energy, and cultural-humanitarian spheres.
Both parties emphasized their mutual commitment to further solidifying their strategic partnership in a spirit of friendship, good-neighborliness, and mutual respect.
The foreign ministers thoroughly reviewed the progress made in implementing the agreements reached during the official visit of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Ashgabat in October 2024. They agreed to continue supporting the strengthening of inter-parliamentary and inter-governmental ties.
Particular attention was given to the further expansion of trade and economic cooperation. Over the past two years, bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan has consistently exceeded $500 million. The two sides agreed to take concerted measures to achieve the goal set by their heads of state to increase trade turnover to $1 billion.
Significant potential in the energy and transport sectors was noted. The officials expressed their readiness to further promote fruitful cooperation in these areas.
The substantive agenda of cultural and humanitarian cooperation was highlighted. In accordance with the instructions of the heads of state, solemn ceremonies were held last year in Astana to unveil monuments to Makhtumkuli in Astana, Abai and Kurmangazy in Ashgabat, and cross-cultural Days of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan were conducted.
During the meeting, the ministers also “synchronized their watches” on current aspects of the regional and international agendas, reaffirmed their interest in continuing to work closely within multilateral structures, and pledged to continue providing mutual support in promoting the initiatives of the two states. In this vein, they exchanged respective verbal notes of support for each other’s candidacies in international organizations.
Nurtleu congratulated the Turkmen side on the commencement of the International Year of Peace and Trust, declared by the UN General Assembly at the initiative of Turkmenistan.
The foreign ministers underscored the importance of further developing regional cooperation, joint efforts to strengthen peace and stability in Central Asia, including within the framework of the Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia and the International Fund for Saving the Aral 1 Sea.
