On 22 April 2025, informal talks were held in Turkestan between President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
The Head of Kazakhstan thanked Berdimuhamedov for visiting Turkestan, the spiritual capital of Kazakhstan, a city of sacred importance to all Turkic peoples. Tokayev congratulated Arkadag Berdimuhamedov on the beginning of the International Year of Peace and Trust, stressing that Kazakhstan enthusiastically supported this personal initiative of the National Leader of the Turkmen people.
Tokayev stressed that he was pleased to accept the invitation to participate in the international forum dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust, to be held in Ashgabat on 12 December.
Tokayev conveyed an invitation to President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov to pay a state visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan this year.
“It is encouraging that cooperation between our states is developing successfully. The plans include strategically important projects in the gas industry, as well as in the transport and logistics sector. We are keeping this work under control, as the further qualitative development of economic cooperation between our countries depends on its results,” the President of Kazakhstan noted.
Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty expressed gratitude for the hospitality and called Kazakhstan one of the main strategic partners of Turkmenistan.
“Our bilateral relations in the political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres have good prospects. We are grateful to you for supporting Turkmenistan’s initiative within the framework of the United Nations to proclaim the International Year of Peace and Trust,” Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said.
He also thanked Kazakhstan for its support and co-authorship of the UN General Assembly Resolution “Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan”, adopted on the initiative of Turkmenistan on 21 March 2025.
Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan demonstrate a steady trend towards expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in the trade and economic sphere, the National Leader of the Turkmen people said.
According to the National Leader, both countries have enormous opportunities to increase the volume of mutual trade and investment. Special attention is paid to the implementation of joint projects in key sectors of the economy, including energy, transport, communications and various industrial sectors.
The energy sector was recognized as a key priority for the partnership. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov highlighted the pivotal agreements achieved in Astana last summer, which aimed to strengthen cooperation in the oil and gas industry. A significant milestone in this direction was the signing of several documents between the relevant departments of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan during the President of Kazakhstan’s visit to Ashgabat in October 2024. Turkmenistan reaffirmed its commitment to the practical implementation of these agreements. Berdimuhamedov proposed issuing specific instructions to the joint Working Group to oversee activities promoting the next phase of development at the Galkynysh gas field and facilitating the supply of Turkmen natural gas to Kazakhstan.
Additionally, electricity supplies were identified as a promising area within the energy sector, where Turkmenistan expressed its willingness to engage in close and effective cooperation with its Kazakhstani partners.
Furthermore, the National Leader of the Turkmen people emphasized the strategic importance of cooperation in transport and communications. To create more favorable conditions for transport and transit, he suggested exploring opportunities to enhance comprehensive cooperation among the Caspian Sea ports of Turkmenbashi, Aktau, and Kuryk.
The positive dynamics of the growth of freight transportation by road and rail, in particular, within the framework of the international North–South transport corridor, was noted. In this regard, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov called for the creation of new forms of cooperation, including the establishment of a joint Turkmen-Kazakh transport and logistics company.
In turn, Tokayev noted the significant potential of the Torghundi–Herat–Kandahar–Spin-Buldak railway construction project, the successful implementation of which will ensure the diversification of transport routes and the expansion of export markets. According to him, the Kazakhstan–Turkmenistan–Iran railway and the Turkmenbashi–Garabogaz–Kazakhstan border highway under construction also play a key role in the development of transit potential in the North–South direction.
To strengthen business ties, it was deemed effective to intensify the activities of the Turkmen-Kazakh Business Council and to hold its meetings regularly. The most recent meeting of the Council took place successfully in March 2025 in Ashgabat.
During the meeting, the sides emphasized the importance of implementing measures to increase trade turnover to $1 billion in the coming years.
In addition to economic cooperation, the parties called for the further development of bilateral cultural and humanitarian ties, particularly in the areas of education and digitalization. The Kazakh side expressed its willingness to provide comprehensive support to Turkmenistan in the digitalization of public services and in enhancing the skills of its IT specialists.
Touring SPK Turkistan Industrial park
The President of Kazakhstan and the National Leader of Turkmenistan visited the industrial park SPK Turkistan, showcasing the region’s dynamic industrial advancements.
Currently, six investment projects with a total value of 36.5 billion tenge are underway, focusing on the production of rain and drip irrigation systems, agricultural tractors, school, medical and office furniture, interior doors, and industrial refrigerators.
Looking ahead, the park’s next development phase includes plans to construct 112 facilities across a 70-hectare area and initiate 13 additional projects worth 39.7 billion tenge.
During their visit, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov explored an exhibition by Kazakhstani manufacturers featuring innovations in the space industry, mechanical engineering, metallurgy, construction, as well as the light, food, and chemical industries.
The exhibition showcased a diverse array of high-value products, including cars, agricultural and household appliances, medical equipment, industrial batteries, furniture, textiles, clothing, and more.///nCa, 23 April 2025 (photo credit – Aqorda)