Turkmenistan at the High-level Political Forum: Accelerating Action to Achieve the SDGs by 2030

The delegation of Turkmenistan is participating in the events of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), dedicated to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

On 15 July 2026, the delegation of Turkmenistan took part in the High-level Segment General Debate of ECOSOC under the theme “Getting Better Results: Accelerating Urgent and Transformative Action for the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.”

Addressing the Forum, the Head of the Turkmen delegation, Perhat Yagshiyev, emphasized that expanding multifaceted cooperation with the United Nations and its specialized agencies remains one of the priority areas of Turkmenistan's foreign policy. It was stressed that ensuring peace, stability and security is regarded as an essential prerequisite for sustainable development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The statement noted that Turkmenistan is consistently implementing the 2030 Agenda at the national level. Currently, 85 percent of the SDG targets have been integrated into national and sectoral development programmes, while 131 national targets and 175 SDG indicators have been approved.

Particular attention was paid to environmental protection, the rational use of water resources, climate change and combating desertification. It was emphasized that water-related issues should be addressed on the basis of universally recognized principles and norms of international law, taking into account the interests of all countries in the region. In this context, the initiative of the President of Turkmenistan to establish a Regional Centre for Combating Desertification for the countries of Central Asia was highlighted.

The statement also outlined Turkmenistan's efforts to promote a green economy, expand the use of environmentally friendly technologies, implement major energy projects and fulfil its international commitments to reduce methane emissions.

Special attention was drawn to the city of Arkadag as the first smart city in the region, built in accordance with the principles of sustainable development, inclusiveness and environmental sustainability. It was noted that the city has been included in the OSCE project on sustainable and climate-resilient cities and has received numerous international awards and certificates.

The importance of enhancing international transport connectivity was also underscored. Turkmenistan continues to implement major transport and transit projects along the East–West and North–South corridors, including the Trans-Caspian route, viewing them as a significant contribution to strengthening international trade and supporting the development of landlocked countries.

On the sidelines of the Forum, the delegation of Turkmenistan is also studying international best practices in the preparation of Voluntary National Reviews, which will be used in preparing Turkmenistan's third Voluntary National Review, scheduled for presentation in 2027.