Baku, October 16, 2026 – The Europe Today: President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov has called for strengthening preventive diplomacy, expanding regional transport connectivity and enhancing international cooperation on climate change, environmental protection and food security during the 7th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku, Azerbaijan.
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov arrived in Azerbaijan on 15 October 2026 on a working visit to participate in the summit. He was welcomed at Heydar Aliyev International Airport by Azerbaijani officials and members of Turkmenistan’s official delegation.
At the Baku Congress Centre, President Berdimuhamedov was received by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, who welcomed the participating delegations and expressed confidence that the summit would contribute to strengthening constructive international cooperation.
Addressing the summit, the Turkmen president thanked his Azerbaijani counterpart for the high standard of organisation, warm hospitality and favourable conditions provided for constructive discussions.
He commended the outcomes of Azerbaijan’s chairmanship of CICA, noting that the country had demonstrated consistency and determination in promoting interaction, strengthening confidence-building measures and advancing the organisation’s objectives. He also highlighted Azerbaijan’s contribution to expanding international cooperation.
President Berdimuhamedov stressed the importance of strengthening the international legal foundations necessary for effective joint action to maintain international stability. He observed that greater emphasis on international law and preventive diplomacy within CICA could help prevent conflicts, build mutual trust and facilitate mutually acceptable solutions to regional challenges.
Turning to economic cooperation, the Turkmen president highlighted the importance of stronger economic connectivity, mutually beneficial trade and reliable transport and logistics networks in ensuring safe and sustainable global development.
He emphasised the need to diversify transport routes, develop multimodal transportation systems and remove infrastructure and procedural barriers that impede regional cooperation amid changes in the global economy.
Turkmenistan, he said, supports making fuller use of transport corridors along the East–West and North–South routes, expanding international logistics cooperation and simplifying trade procedures. In this regard, President Berdimuhamedov proposed establishing a ministerial-level dialogue on transport issues within the CICA framework.
He also drew attention to the growing importance of digital cooperation, describing digital transformation as an increasingly significant dimension of international engagement.
Addressing environmental challenges, the Turkmen leader underlined that climate change and environmental security remain among the major challenges facing the international community. He reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s commitment to strengthening international cooperation in these areas, including environmental protection and the efficient use of water resources.
The humanitarian dimension of regional cooperation also featured prominently in his address. President Berdimuhamedov called for greater development of youth diplomacy to engage younger generations in promoting peaceful dialogue, mutual understanding and intercultural cooperation.
As a practical initiative, he proposed establishing a Network of Young Ambassadors of Confidence, bringing together talented and forward-looking young people from participating countries to promote peace, tolerance and constructive intercultural dialogue.
Concluding his address, President Berdimuhamedov reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s strong commitment to CICA and its goals and principles. President Ilham Aliyev thanked the Turkmen leader for his substantive remarks and highlighted the importance of the proposals and initiatives presented by Turkmenistan.
The summit also addressed a broad range of regional and international issues, including confidence-building measures, climate change adaptation, harmonisation of transport and logistics strategies, development of international transport corridors, food security, environmental sustainability and accelerated digital transformation.
Through its proposals, Turkmenistan underscored the importance of diversifying transport and logistics cooperation, addressing environmental challenges and expanding humanitarian ties among Asian countries.
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov’s working visit to Azerbaijan is continuing.
