Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, met with Oleg Kononenko, a Hero of Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation and a cosmonaut, on Oct. 10. The talks focused on encouraging young people in Turkmenistan to engage in space-related cooperation and study space science, Turkmen state media reported.
During the meeting, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov discussed space exploration and the use of its potential to further develop Turkmenistan’s economy and key areas of national science. In this context, particular attention was given to involving young people in cooperation in the field and promoting the study of space science.
Kononenko expressed his willingness to help foster young people’s interest in space and encourage them to pursue advanced engineering fields. He said supporting these areas was a source of genuine enthusiasm and pride for him. “It is a great honor for me to make a worthy contribution to implementing initiatives of historic significance on my native soil,” the cosmonaut said.
According to the report, Turkmenistan places great importance on establishing constructive international partnerships while adopting advanced global practices in space research. The launch of the country’s first national artificial satellite into orbit has created favorable opportunities to expand cooperation in this field. Berdimuhamedov and Kononenko noted that Turkmenistan has broad prospects for active participation in space exploration as it continues to pursue technological and economic progress.
Kononenko said he always returns to Turkmenistan, where he was born and raised, with joy and emotion. He added that was proud of the achievements of his historical homeland, which he described as a country of happiness and prosperity.
At the end of the meeting, Berdimuhamedov and Kononenko exchanged best wishes and expressed confidence that the planned events would be successfully held.
Kononenko is director of the Yuri Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Center, a federal state budgetary institution, and commander of the Russian cosmonaut corps. He took part in celebrations held in Turkmenistan for Health and Medical Industry Workers Day.
