On June 20, 2018, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov left for a working visit to the Republic of Tajikistan in order to participate in the High-Level International Conference on the UN Decade of Action "Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028".
After an hour and a half flight, the presidential airliner landed at the International airport of the capital of Tajikistan, where the national flags of the two countries were raised on flagpoles. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov was greeted by officials in the air harbor. High Turkmen guest was presented with flowers.
From the airport the Head of Turkmenistan went to the venue of the International Conference - the Governmental residence of the Republic of Tajikistan.
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov proceeded to a special place for high guests, where he was warmly welcomed by the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon.
The President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mamnun Hussein, the Head of the Executive power of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah, the UN Deputy Secretary-General Liu Zhenming, high-ranking delegations from more than 110 countries, representatives of a number of United Nations, international and regional organizations, financial institutions, business circles and other interested parties attended the forum in Dushanbe.
After the traditional ceremony of official joint photographing of the heads of delegations participating in the Forum, the grand opening of the International Conference "Water for Sustainable Development" was held in the Great Hall of the "Kohi Somon" Palace.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed gratitude to the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the United Nations for the invitation to participate in this Conference, the hospitality and the excellent conditions created for the Forum.
As the Head of State further noted, water issues, including political, economic, social aspects need international consensus and consolidation of the efforts of states on the common worldview platform. At the same time, local interests and benefits should give way to understanding of truly global goals and priorities, developing a unified strategy for water action for the long term.
In this connection, the need arises for developing effective formats for international cooperation on water issues. Noting that one of the most effective steps in this direction could be the establishment of a specialized UN structure on water issues for Central Asia, the Head of State expressed his conviction that this is how the experience of solving the water and water and energy problems accumulated by the international community can find its effective application. In this regard, President of Turkmenistan appealed to the states of the region and the UN Secretariat with a proposal to consider this issue in a substantive manner.
Confirming the readiness of the Turkmen side for active close cooperation with partners at governmental, legislative and expert levels, the mutually beneficial exchange of experience, wide and interested cooperation with international organizations, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov wished all participants of the Forum fruitful work.
The speech of the President of Turkmenistan was listened with deep interest.
At the end of the opening ceremony of the International Conference, the heads of high-level delegations left the Great Hall of the Kohi Somon Palace.
On the same day, within the framework of the working visit to Dushanbe, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held bilateral meetings with the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, the Head of the Executive Power of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah and the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mamnun Hussein.
In the second half of the day, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov proceeded to Dushanbe International Airport, from where he left for home.
