On 29 December 2025, a telephone conversation took place between the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, as reported by Turkmenistan’s State News Agency (TDH).
During the call, the sides exchanged New Year’s greetings, reviewed the progress in bilateral cooperation throughout the outgoing year, and discussed upcoming regional summits in 2026.
Uzbekistan’s economic performance
Berdimuhamedov expressed confidence that Uzbekistan would continue to strengthen its independence, state institutions, and legal system in the coming year, while achieving rapid national economic growth and improvements in social welfare.
In this context, the National Leader of Turkmenistan highlighted the importance of President Mirziyoyev’s recent declaration of 2026 as the “Year of Mahalla Development and Society.” (Mahalla refers to Uzbekistan’s traditional neighborhood communities, which serve as key units of local self-governance and social support.)
He emphasized that this initiative fully aligns with Uzbekistan’s national interests, societal needs, and capabilities, and is designed to effectively advance President Mirziyoyev’s political course aimed at balanced development across all aspects of state and public life.
Discussing Uzbekistan’s economic progress, Berdimuhamedov cited key statistics: for instance, Uzbekistan’s GDP in 2025 exceeded $145 billion. Projected growth of 6.6% for the next year indicates that the country is steadily advancing toward its goal of joining the ranks of upper-middle-income nations in the near future.
Berdimuhamedov also praised Uzbekistan’s strong achievements in areas such as education, science, healthcare, sports, and environmental protection.
Given the shared goals, the National Leader expressed firm belief in the ongoing strategic partnership between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan across a broad range of fields.
Mutual Support for International Initiatives
Another topic was Uzbekistan’s participation in major political forums held in Turkmenistan during 2025.
In particular, Berdimuhamedov thanked President Mirziyoyev for attending the International Forum on Peace and Trust in Ashgabat on December 12, where Mirziyoyev reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s commitment to close cooperation with Turkmenistan.
On bilateral political and diplomatic relations, the Turkmen National Leader noted the significance of the visit by a delegation led by Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of the Administration of the President of Uzbekistan, to an international conference in Awaza focused on the role of women in society.
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov underscored the vital role of the foreign ministries and embassies of both countries in strengthening bilateral ties, expressing confidence that diplomats would continue promoting mutually important international initiatives.
In this regard, it was noted that Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Ravshanbek Alimov, was recently awarded the jubilee medal “Türkmenistanyň Bitaraplygynyň 30 ýyllygyna” (for the 30th Anniversary of Turkmenistan’s Neutrality) by decree of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, in recognition of his contributions to enhancing bilateral relations and international cooperation.
Plans for 2026
In 2026, Turkmenistan will host two significant international and regional summits: the Consultative Meeting of Heads of State of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, as well as the next session of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Berdimuhamedov proposed that Mirziyoyev begin joint preparations early in 2026 to coordinate organizational matters for major international events planned in both Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
The Turkmen National Leader stressed the need to include water-related issues on the agenda of the upcoming summits. He called for the development of a joint action program to address water challenges in the Central Asian, Aral Sea, and Caspian regions, as well as along the Amu Darya River.
Berdimuhamedov expressed confidence in President Mirziyoyev’s support for preparing joint proposals on organizational, substantive, legal, and other aspects of the summits.
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In conclusion, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev once again extended warm New Year’s greetings to each other and the fraternal peoples of both countries.
This telephone conversation reaffirmed the commitment of Ashgabat and Tashkent to further strengthening multifaceted cooperation, contributing to sustainable development, peace, and prosperity in Central Asia.///nCa, 30 December 2025