Visit of the delegation of Turkmenistan to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland began

On 24 February 2026, a working visit of the delegation of Turkmenistan headed by the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland began.

On 25 February, on the first half of the day, a meeting was held between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov and the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization Arsenio Dominguez, during which issues of cooperation in the field of maritime transport and international shipping were discussed.

During the meeting, the Minister emphasized that strengthening ties with international organizations in the transport sector is one of the priority tasks of the modern era. In this regard, Turkmenistan consistently cooperates with a number of specialized international structures, including the International Maritime Organization.

It was noted that systematic work is being carried out in the country to ensure compliance with the requirements of international conventions in the field of maritime transport, to introduce modern standards of shipping safety and to develop the regulatory and legal framework with due regard for international obligations.

From the high rostrum of the United Nations, Turkmenistan consistently calls for a comprehensive consideration of transport issues not only at the national and regional levels, but also on a global scale. At the initiative of Turkmenistan, the UN General Assembly has adopted a number of resolutions aimed at forming a qualitatively new format of international cooperation in the transport sector.

The importance of active cooperation with the United Nations was particularly emphasized, a clear example of which was the holding in August 2025, in the National Tourist Zone “Avaza”, of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Turkmen side confirmed its readiness to further develop constructive dialogue with the International Maritime Organization and to implement joint projects in the field of sustainable and safe maritime transport.

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On the same day, the opening of the “Structural Dialogue” between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom took place at the UK Foreign Office. Addresses were delivered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the UK Foreign Office Hamish Falconer.

In his remarks, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan noted the steady development of Turkmen–British cooperation and emphasized the significance of holding the third round of the “Structural Dialogue”.

A positive dynamic in political dialogue and trade-economic relations was noted. At the same time, the need for fuller use of the existing economic potential was emphasized, including within the framework of the Turkmen–British Trade and Industry Council.

In the areas of education and culture, Turkmenistan emphasized its strong interest in learning English and expressed interest in expanding cooperation with relevant British institutions. The signing of a number of bilateral documents in these areas was planned for the visit.

Regarding the regional agenda, the Minister emphasized the importance of stabilizing the situation in Afghanistan, noting Turkmenistan’s implementation of major infrastructure projects aimed at providing socio-economic support to the Afghan people. They reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation on regional security issues.

Current international issues were also discussed. The Turkmen side reaffirmed its commitment to the principles of the UN Charter, the country's neutral status, and the need for a peaceful, political and diplomatic settlement of international disputes.

Following the event, a Cooperation Program between the foreign ministries of the two countries for 2026-2027 was signed.

Further negotiations took place at the level of heads of relevant departments.