Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov took part in the third Central Asia+Russia meeting of foreign ministers, which was held in a video conference format on Thursday.
According to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry’s press release, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Muhtar Tleuberdi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzystan Ruslan Kazakbayev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Mukhriddin, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov.
The meeting participants noted the high level of interstate dialogue between the countries of Central Asia and Russia. The ministers discussed a number of key issues of cooperation in the political and diplomatic, trade-economic, and cultural-humanitarian fields.
Particular attention was paid to the issues of response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the exchange of views on the creation of anti-crisis plans and programs on overcoming its socio-economic consequences on the countries of the region.
Speaking at the meeting, Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov briefed on the measures taken in Turkmenistan to counter the pandemic and stressed the importance of strengthening regional and international cooperation in this direction.
The parties discussed in detail the current situation and prospects of cooperation in the field of regional security, taking into account the developments in Afghanistan.
The Ministers considered the possibilities of expanding a fair and mutually beneficial partnership in the Eurasian space, including the development of trade and economic ties and investment cooperation. The sides also exchanged views on the prospects for the implementation of key initiatives of the Central Asian states, Russia and the Asian-Pacific region’s countries in the transit and logistics sphere, which is expected to strengthen trade and economic relations, ensure favorable tariff conditions, and increase competitiveness in the post-pandemic period.
The parties also discussed the possibilities of expanding cooperation in the cultural-humanitarian sphere. In this regard, the officials stressed the importance of the Soul of Eurasia initiative aimed at developing cultural dialogue between the countries.
In conclusion of the meeting, the Ministers adopted the joint Statement on strategic directions of cooperation.
