Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Vepa Hajiyev during the 17th meeting of the foreign ministers of Central Asia and the European Union (EU) on Monday in Dushanbe stated the timeliness of launching a new mechanism, the European Union - Central Asia Humanitarian Cooperation Forum, to consider the full range of joint work in education, science, culture, art and other spheres.
The meeting participants discussed the state and prospects of relations between the EU and the Central Asian countries, the implementation of the EU Strategy for Central Asia, adopted on June 17, 2019, and exchanged views on interaction and improving the effectiveness of interregional cooperation, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in its press release.
Focusing on goals and priorities outlined at the EU-Central Asia Economic Forum held on November 5 in Bishkek, the Head of the Turkmen Delegation Hajiyev stressed the importance of outlining further steps for their implementation. To this end, he proposed to develop and coordinate the sequence of joint actions in the economic segment of interaction.
The Turkmen side singled out energy, industry, trade, transport and communications as the main aspects of the next EU-Central Asia Economic Forum, proposing to hold it in Turkmenistan.
Stressing the need for further close cooperation in transport, transit and logistics, Hajiyev also noted the timeliness of the International Conference of Ministers of Transport of Landlocked Developing Countries to be held in Turkmenistan in 2022 in cooperation with the UN on the basis of a resolution of the General Assembly of the organization.
The Head of the Turkmen delegation also invited the meeting participants to take part in the International Forum of Peace and Trust, which will be held on December 12 in Ashgabat.
