Strengthening Turkmen-Swedish Cooperation in Stockholm
Turkmen-Swedish cooperation discussed in Stockholm
On the 3rd of September 2024, Turkmen-Swedish political consultations took place in Stockholm. Leading the Turkmen side was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Myahri Byashimova, while the Swedish side was headed by Tobias Thyberg, Head of the Department for Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden.
The discussions during the inter-MFA consultations centered around the current state of bilateral relations and the potential for further growth and development. Global and regional agenda items such as peace and security, counter-terrorism, environment, transport, and energy were also topics of conversation between the two sides.
Both parties emphasized the importance of active engagement within international organizations like the UN, OSCE, and the EU. The Turkmen delegation extended an invitation to their Swedish counterparts to participate in various events held by Turkmenistan and proposed utilizing international platforms for organizing high-level meetings.
A key agreement was made regarding the significance of cooperation within the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative and the exploration of new formats for collaboration.
Additionally, the Turkmen delegation met with Björn Söder, Head of the Friendship Group for Central Asia in the Riksdag (Parliament) of Sweden and Head of the Swedish Delegation to the OSCE PA on the same day. They discussed enhancing inter-parliamentary cooperation between Turkmenistan and Sweden, culminating in an online meeting between the Friendship Groups of both countries scheduled for October of the same year.
The parties also explored opportunities for cooperation in culture and education, considering the organization of reciprocal days of culture in both nations.
On the following day, the Turkmen delegation met with Torbjörn Solström, Director General for Euro-Atlantic Affairs and Security Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden. The Swedish side expressed their interest in strengthening ties with Central Asian countries, particularly Turkmenistan, focusing on areas such as parliamentary cooperation, collaboration within international organizations, and potential partnerships in ecology, energy, business, culture, and education.
The discussions between Turkmenistan and Sweden highlighted a mutual commitment to deepening cooperation and exploring new avenues for partnership in various fields.
