Statement by President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, at the Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

(July 4, 2023)

Dear Mr. Chairman,

Dear Heads of State and Delegations,

I would like to extend a warm welcome to all participants, leaders, and members of delegations present here today.

I express my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India for extending the invitation to me as a guest of honor for this important meeting.

Dear Kassym-Jomart Tokayev,

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on the assumption of the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization by the Republic of Kazakhstan. I wish you great success in all your endeavors during your country's presidency of this esteemed organization.

I would also like to extend my sincere congratulations to the esteemed Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi on the admission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the SCO, as well as to the esteemed Alexander Lukashenko on the Republic of Belarus attaining the status of a full-fledged member state of the SCO. I wish both countries great success and achievements in their cooperation within the new format.

We consider our participation in this forum as a testament to the high regard for Turkmenistan, its constructive foreign policy, and evidence of mutual understanding regarding the prospects for mutually beneficial multifaceted partnerships and their implementation.

Dear participants,

For Turkmenistan, relations with the Shanghai Organization form a crucial part of our international cooperation strategy. SCO members and observer countries have been longstanding traditional partners of Turkmenistan, serving as neighbors and friends.

Hence, we perceive the development of dialogue with the Organization as inherently linked to the progressive course of our bilateral cooperation and our overall participation in global and regional processes.

In this regard, we hold great respect and interest in the SCO's initiatives in the economic, investment, transport, energy, and other spheres. We see substantial opportunities for mutually beneficial and long-term participation in these initiatives.

Today, the prospects of such collaboration are no longer in doubt. This is due to the presence of a robust resource and production base in our countries, noticeable advancements in transport logistics, communication, and other sectors, as well as the experience gained through partnership in various bilateral and multilateral formats.

However, it is evident that the success of our economic cooperation can only be achieved through ensuring lasting peace, stability, and security. Turkmenistan is fully prepared for active cooperation with the SCO in addressing this vital two-pronged objective.

In this regard, I propose focusing on several specific areas of work:

Firstly, the establishment of political and diplomatic cooperation in the fields of cyber and biosecurity.

Secondly, the formation of a mechanism for logistics activities aimed at creating new intercontinental and regional transport and transit corridors, as well as enhancing the efficiency of existing ones.

Thirdly, the creation of conditions for systematic and long-term cooperation in the energy sector through joint planning of projects to diversify energy supplies. This includes meeting the energy needs of SCO states and exploring prospects for entering foreign markets.

Fourthly, the establishment of a platform for effective partnerships in high technologies.

Fifthly, the coordination of joint efforts in the areas of climate change, environmental protection, and ecology. In this context, I extend an invitation to all interested parties to consider the possibility of participating in the implementation of Turkmenistan's initiative to establish a Regional Center for Climate Change Technologies.

As a first step, I believe it is expedient to hold expert-level consultations in each of the aforementioned areas. Such consultations would enable us to better assess our opportunities and needs, and develop modalities for further joint work based on these assessments.

Furthermore, we believe that such a format can be utilized in the future for addressing other relevant aspects of the Turkmenistan-SCO dialogue, giving it a systemic character. This includes areas such as culture and humanitarian cooperation, science, education, and healthcare.

Dear participants,

Turkmenistan regards its relations with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in a strategic manner. This approach is justified by the historical and centuries-old spiritual and cultural ties that strengthen the bonds between our peoples and states.

These connections create additional incentives and prospects for long-term partnerships between our country and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. These partnerships extend to regional and international agendas, within the framework of various multilateral structures and key international organizations, most notably the United Nations.

In conclusion, I want to emphasize that Turkmenistan is firmly committed to a comprehensive cooperation course with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. We highly value the achieved level of mutual understanding, respect, trust, and openness. We clearly see the prospects and mutual benefits of cooperation, which align with the genuine and fundamental interests of our peoples and states.

We are ready to continue our constructive joint work and contribute to the success and prosperity of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

 

Thank you for your attention.