Stockholm, September 06, 2024, The Europe Today: Turkmenistan and Sweden held high-level political consultations in Stockholm on September 3, aimed at enhancing bilateral relations and exploring new avenues for cooperation. The Turkmen delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Myahri Byashimova, and the Swedish side, headed by Tobias Thyberg, Head of the Department for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, engaged in a wide-ranging discussion on global and regional issues.
During the consultations, both sides reviewed the current state of bilateral relations and identified opportunities for their further development. Key topics included peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts, environmental protection, transport, and energy cooperation. The two delegations underscored the importance of active collaboration within international organizations such as the United Nations, OSCE, and the European Union.
Strengthening International and Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation
The Turkmen delegation extended an invitation to Swedish officials to participate in various events organized by Turkmenistan, proposing that international platforms be utilized to arrange high-level meetings. Both parties highlighted the importance of cooperation within the framework of the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative, emphasizing the need to explore new formats of collaboration.
In a separate meeting, the Turkmen delegation met with Björn Söder, Head of the Friendship Group for Central Asia in the Swedish Parliament, and Head of the Swedish Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Both sides expressed their mutual willingness to enhance inter-parliamentary cooperation, agreeing to hold an online meeting between the Friendship Groups of the two nations in October.
Expanding Cultural and Educational Cooperation
The two delegations also discussed opportunities for collaboration in culture and education, agreeing to explore the possibility of organizing reciprocal cultural events in Turkmenistan and Sweden. The meetings underscored a shared commitment to fostering ties between the two nations in a broad range of fields.
On September 4, the Turkmen delegation met with Torbjörn Solström, Director General for Euro-Atlantic Affairs and Security Policy of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The talks reaffirmed Sweden’s interest in expanding cooperation with Central Asian countries, with a focus on parliamentary collaboration, ecology, energy, and business ties.
These political consultations mark a significant step in strengthening the partnership between Turkmenistan and Sweden, opening new possibilities for cooperation in diverse areas of mutual interest.
