During the extended SCO+ session on Monday, Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov invited all attendees to Ashgabat on December 12 to mark the 30th anniversary of the country’s internationally recognized neutrality. The full text of his speech was published by the state news agency TDH.
“It is worth noting that the current members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization have supported and co-authored UN General Assembly resolutions on Turkmenistan’s neutrality, along with other UN decisions initiated by our country. I mention this with special gratitude today, on the eve of a historic milestone—the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s international recognition as a neutral state, which will be celebrated on December 12 this year. We would be delighted to welcome delegations from all SCO countries to the upcoming festivities in Ashgabat,” the president said.
Berdimuhamedov also emphasized that Turkmenistan’s tradition of attending SCO summits as an honored guest reflects the strong mutual interest in developing deeper partnerships. “Turkmenistan has great respect for the SCO and follows its activities with close attention and goodwill. We recognize the organization’s constructive role in continental and global affairs, and its considerable contribution to building a just and balanced system of modern international relations,” he noted.
The president further pointed out the Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s initiative to create a more effective system of global governance, adding that it aligns closely with Turkmenistan’s own view of how international relations should evolve—based on equality, fairness, and mutual respect.
The SCO summit in Tianjin was held on August 31 and September 1, gathering leaders from over 20 nations, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and representatives from 10 international organizations. The summit concluded with the signing of 15 new cooperation agreements.
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Photo: Kerri-Jo Stewart/Creative Commons 2.0
Based on materials from TASS