Outcomes of the President of Turkmenistan’s Visit to Turkey Discussed in Ashgabat
A high-level conference dedicated to the international recognition of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy course was held at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. The expert dialogue was prompted by the awarding of an honorary doctorate in international relations to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov by Turkey’s prestigious Hacettepe University, as well as the presentation of the "Strategic Friendship" award to the Turkmen leader by the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEİK).
The event was attended by heads of ministries and government agencies, members of the diplomatic corps, prominent scholars, faculty members, and students. In her opening remarks, Gulshat Yusupova, Rector of the Institute of International Relations, emphasized that the conferment of honorary titles by leading foreign universities—including the University of Tsukuba in Japan, Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea, and Hacettepe University in Turkey—serves as a natural acknowledgment of the peace-building role of Turkmenistan’s policy of neutrality and the global initiatives put forward by the head of state to strengthen international connectivity.
Speaking at the conference, the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Turkmenistan, Şener Cebeci, described the recent visit of the President of Turkmenistan to Ankara—and his participation in the 13th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS)—as a historic milestone in bringing the fraternal nations closer together. The diplomat noted the strong momentum in bilateral trade, which is targeting a $5 billion milestone, and emphasized that Turkmenistan’s observer status within the OTS, combined with the role of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, as a member of the Council of Elders, lends the organization particular strength and prestige. The Ambassador also highlighted the opening of the "Park of Turkic Civilization" in Ankara, which features a traditional Turkmen yurt—an "Ak Öy"—and a depiction of an Akhal-Teke horse.
Continuing on the subject of humanitarian and educational cooperation, Turkmenistan’s Minister of Education, Jumamyrat Gurbangeldyyev, provided a detailed overview of the multi-level engagement with Turkish higher education institutions and research centers. It was noted that academic exchanges, joint international Olympiads, professional training programs, and long-standing partnerships—such as those between the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Diplomatic Academy of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as leading universities in Ankara and Istanbul—serve as a solid foundation for cultivating a new generation of diplomats and specialists.
Also speaking at the conference were Allaberdi Ashirov, President of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan; Nazar Agakhanov, Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations; and Mergen Gurdov, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The speakers concurred that the high-level international awards bestowed upon the President of Turkmenistan reflect a triumph of constructive diplomacy, open new horizons for large-scale investment and economic projects, and further strengthen the enduring cultural and civilizational ties between Turkmenistan and Turkey.
