During a government meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov reported on preparations for Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s official visit to the country, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan reported.
As noted, developing mutually beneficial cooperation with countries around the world is one of the main vectors of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov’s foreign policy. In this regard, work is systematically underway to strengthen bilateral relations with Asian countries.
Particularly emphasized is the partnership with Malaysia, which was among the first to recognize Turkmenistan’s independence and support its permanent neutrality. Diplomatic relations between the countries were established on May 17, 1992. The legal framework for cooperation includes 43 interstate, intergovernmental, and interdepartmental documents.
As noted, reciprocal high-level visits play a crucial role in developing the partnership—nine in total have been organized, including four visits by the President of Turkmenistan to Malaysia and five visits by Malaysian prime ministers to Turkmenistan. The National Leader of the Turkmen People, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council), Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, paid state and official visits to Malaysia in 2011 and 2016, laying the foundation for expanding political dialogue between the countries.
Following Serdar Berdimuhamedov’s official visit to Malaysia in December 2024, bilateral relations reached a new level. Contacts are also maintained at the government and foreign ministry levels, and political dialogue is developing within the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement, and other international organizations. Malaysia is a long-standing trade and economic partner of Turkmenistan.
After hearing the report, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted the fruitful development of cooperation between the countries and instructed the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to prepare for the official visit of the Prime Minister of Malaysia to Turkmenistan.
