Discussion on Issues Surrounding Turkmen-Japanese Cooperation
The issues of Turkmen-Japanese cooperation discussed
On July 11, 2023, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov, met with a delegation led by the Parliamentary vice-minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Yuumi Yoshikawa, to discuss the priority directions of Turkmen-Japanese partnership. The areas of focus included political-diplomatic, trade-economic, and cultural-humanitarian spheres.
During the talks, Meredov emphasized the special importance Turkmenistan places on further developing cooperation with Japan, based on long-standing friendship, trust, and mutual understanding. The development of contacts at the highest level was noted to play a significant role in expanding and strengthening bilateral relations.
The meeting confirmed the importance of parliamentary diplomacy, as evidenced by the regular character of Turkmen-Japanese parliamentary exchanges. These exchanges are a significant part of the bilateral political relations, with the visit of the Chairman of Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, to Japan in September of the previous year being highlighted.
The parties also highlighted the effective cooperation of Turkmenistan and Japan on topical issues within authoritative international structures, primarily the UN. The commitment of both sides to further deepening their partnership and mutually beneficial cooperation was emphasized, particularly within the framework of the “Central Asia-Japan” Dialogue.
Regarding economic partnership, the Turkmen side confirmed that their cooperation with Japan in this area has a long-term character. The activities of the Turkmen-Japanese and Japanese-Turkmen Committees for Economic Cooperation were deemed important in this regard.
In the cultural-humanitarian sphere, the interlocutors emphasized active cooperation and great prospects in the fields of education, science, health protection, sport, and tourism. They also noted the significance of interaction in the sphere of studying the Japanese language in higher educational institutions and schools in Turkmenistan.
Overall, the discussions highlighted the commitment of Turkmenistan and Japan to strengthen their cooperation and explore new avenues of partnership. The mutual understanding and shared goals between the two nations continue to pave the way for fruitful collaboration across various sectors.
