On July 19, 2023, the leader of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, attended a Summit of Heads of State from the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) and Central Asian countries in Saudi Arabia.
The gathering was attended by the heads of the GCC and Central Asian nations – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – as well as the Secretary General of the GCC.
The agenda of the Summit focused on the development of beneficial multilateral cooperation in a variety of fields.
The Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, welcomed the esteemed guests and expressed his confidence that the meeting would create new chances for the establishment of efficient inter-state and inter-regional relationships.
President Berdimuhamedov thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, for the hospitality and warm reception, as well as for the excellent conditions for the Summit to take place at a high level. The head of state also thanked His Highness the Crown Prince, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, for the successful organization of the event.
President Berdimuhamedov noted that due to the complex international political situation in different regions, a similar situation is observed in areas adjacent to Central Asian and GCC countries. This necessitates the consolidation of efforts and an appropriate response to existing global challenges and threats.
In this regard, the head of Turkmenistan proposed the creation of a permanent mechanism – the Conference of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Central Asian countries and the GCC.
During the speech, the Heads of state declared a number of initiatives designed to give a long-term character and sustainability to the whole range of inter-state and inter-regional partnerships, which are historically justified and required by modern realities, and meet the goals of common well-being, prosperity, and progress.
At the end of his speech, President Berdimuhamedov expressed his profound gratitude to the organizers of the Summit – the Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, and all representatives of the GCC.
The Crown Prince, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, thanked the head of Turkmenistan for a meaningful speech, in which topical initiatives aimed at enhancing full-scale partnership were announced.
As a result of the Summit of the Heads of the GCC Member State and the countries of Central Asia, a Joint Statement was adopted.
On the same day, as part of a working visit, President Berdimuhamedov met with the Crown Prince, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
President Berdimuhamedov thanked the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and the Crown Prince, Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, for the invitation to take part in the Summit, congratulating on its successful holding, and also conveyed warm greetings from the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
Confirming the commitment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to traditional relations of friendship and fruitful partnership with Turkmenistan, the Crown Prince, Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud conveyed greetings and best wishes to the Hero Arkadag.
During the exchange of views on the prospects for Turkmen-Saudi cooperation, it was emphasized that the two countries are also constructively cooperating in a multilateral format. In this context, the significance of the current Summit, which laid the foundation for deepening mutually beneficial ties between the states of the Gulf and Central Asia, was noted.
At the end of the meeting, President Berdimuhamedov and Crown Prince, Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud expressed confidence in the further successful development of the interstate dialogue, exchanging good wishes to each other and the fraternal peoples of both countries.