On the sidelines of the tripartite summit of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in Ashgabat, Tajik President on August 4 held a meeting with his Turkmen counterpart Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

According to the Tajik president’s official website, the heads of state discussed a set of issues related to bilateral cooperation in the political, economic, commercial, cultural, humanitarian and other spheres.

A particular attention was reportedly paid to the implementation of the agreements reached following the results of the state visit of the President of Turkmenistan to Tajikistan in May 2023.

The parties supported the development and expansion of mutual trade and its steady growth. In this regard, the need to use the opportunities of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, the Business Council of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, as well as the practice of holding business forums was emphasized.

The parties also discussed a number of international and regional issues being of mutual interest.

On the same day, Emomali Rahmon held a meeting with the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

Emomali Rahmon (R) and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

The Tajik president’s official website says the parties discussed the pressing issues of friendly relations between Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and paid attention to the strengthening of strategic partnership and further development of various aspects of cooperation between the two countries.  In particular, the need to bolster and expand economic, commercial, cultural and humanitarian cooperation was emphasized.

At the same time, there was an exchange of views on cooperation between Tajikistan and Turkmenistan within multilateral international structures, such as the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) and other organizations. In this context, readiness was expressed for the continuation of this process and the good traditions of mutual support for international initiatives of the two countries.

The Halk Maslahaty (The People's Council) of Turkmenistan is an independent representative body exerting supreme constitutional authority.  It includes in its membership, but is not considered part of, the legislature.  Among other things, it is empowered to amend the constitution.  Its chairperson is appointed by the president and is designated the "National Leader".  Turkmenistan’s state-run media referred to Halk Maslahaty as the "supreme organ of government authority".  From 2018 to 2023 it was the upper chamber of Turkmenistan's Parliament (Milli Geňeş – National Council).