The position of Turkmenistan on priority areas of cooperation within the framework of the ECO, as well as proposals for a further strategy for the development of the ECO, was presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov in Tashkent during the 26th meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs (CMFA) of the member countries of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).  This is reported by the website of the Foreign Ministry of Turkmenistan.

 In particular, R. Meredov emphasized the importance of accelerated development of transport and logistics, deepening partnerships in the energy sector, expanding industrial cooperation, tapping the potential of cross-border and regional trade, intensifying cooperation in small and medium-sized businesses, and joining efforts to ensure food security.

 The event was attended by the heads of the foreign ministries of the member states, heads of regional organizations, as well as specialized agencies, regional institutions and affiliated bodies of the ECO.

 The meeting participants discussed a wide range of issues of enhancing regional cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, green economy, digitalization, energy, food security, ecology, agriculture and transport.  Also, proposals were considered for the further development of trade and economic ties, the search for new ways of economic growth in the ECO space.

 During the meeting, the Council approved the Work Program and calendar of events of the ECO for 2023, reports on the activities of the Secretariat and specialized bodies of the ECO were adopted, recommendations were developed on the project activities of the Organization, the budget for 2023 was approved, and the results of the chairmanship of Uzbekistan in the ECO were summed up.  As a result of the Ministerial Council, the Tashkent Communiqué was adopted.

On the same day, R. Meredov was received by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.  The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan conveyed warm greetings from President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty, National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

 At the meeting, issues of the practical implementation of the agreements at the highest level, reached during the state visit of the President of Turkmenistan to Uzbekistan and the official visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan, held in 2022, were discussed.

 Forms of further deepening of the Turkmen-Uzbek strategic partnership, building up cooperation in the trade and economic sphere, industrial cooperation, transport and logistics, fuel and energy sector and other areas were also considered.

 The parties paid attention to the schedule of upcoming meetings and events, as well as exchanged views on topical issues of the regional and international agenda.