During his working visit to Austria, the National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, held a series of meetings with the heads of major international organizations headquartered in Vienna.
The discussions focused on the peaceful use of atomic energy, sustainable industrial development, and climate security.
Strengthening Partnership with the United Nations
During the visit, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met with Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Rabab Fatima.
Rabab Fatima underscored the important role of Turkmenistan’s policy of positive neutrality in promoting peace and sustainable development. She noted that Turkmenistan’s initiatives presented at the International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum are closely aligned with the key goals of the UN, particularly the maintenance of global peace and stability and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov confirmed that Turkmenistan consistently develops multifaceted cooperation with the United Nations and its specialized agencies. He expressed readiness to further expand this mutually beneficial partnership.
Industrial Breakthrough and Smart Cities
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov also held talks with Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Gerd Müller.
The National Leader emphasized the importance of cooperation with UNIDO for the development of Turkmenistan’s carpet industry and the expansion of textile product exports to global markets.
Turkmenistan is also interested in technical assistance for the second phase of construction of the smart city of Arkadag, particularly in establishing a medical cluster.
Gerd Müller, in turn, highlighted that the creation of a medical cluster in Arkadag would serve as a vivid example of successfully integrating advanced technologies and industrial potential into the healthcare system.
The sides discussed issues related to climate change. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov confirmed Turkmenistan’s readiness to develop and implement a Roadmap for cooperation with UNIDO for 2026–2030 in the field of green industrial transition and climate change mitigation.
Special attention was paid to Turkmenistan’s regional initiatives:
- Establishment of a Regional Centre for Combating Desertification for Central Asian countries;
- Development of international legal instruments for the management of transboundary water resources, including the preparation of regional conventions on the Amu Darya and Syr Darya river basins;
- Promotion of the Caspian Environmental Initiative;
- Creation of a UN Regional Centre for Climate Change Technologies in Central Asia.
Gerd Müller highly appreciated the initiatives put forward by Turkmenistan and stressed that UNIDO views cooperation with the country as strategically important and oriented toward a long-term perspective.
Peaceful Atom for Medicine and Development
At the meeting with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that Turkmenistan, guided by its internationally recognized status of permanent neutrality, consistently pursues a foreign policy aimed at strengthening global and regional security. He reaffirmed the country’s firm commitment to the exclusively peaceful use of atomic energy.
Rafael Grossi highly praised Turkmenistan’s policy in this field and its international initiatives aimed at enhancing energy and environmental security. He noted that the IAEA greatly values Turkmenistan’s forward-looking approach.
Special attention was given to cooperation in healthcare. With IAEA support, Turkmenistan is introducing modern diagnostic and treatment methods, improving its system for combating dangerous diseases, and raising the quality of medical services provided to the population.
The two sides discussed expanding the legal framework of their cooperation, including Turkmenistan’s accession to international conventions on early warning and mutual assistance in emergency situations.
They also reviewed the preparation of a new Country Programme Framework for 2026–2030, which will define priority areas for technical cooperation in nuclear medicine and the enhancement of safety across various sectors of the national economy.
Berdimuhamedov highlighted the importance of supporting landlocked developing countries. For these nations, access to peaceful nuclear technology can become a powerful tool for sustainable development. He expressed gratitude to Rafael Grossi for the IAEA delegation’s participation in the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, held in Avaza in August last year.
The National Leader proposed organizing a high-level regional forum in Ashgabat dedicated to two significant anniversaries: the signing of the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia and Turkmenistan’s accession to the IAEA. The forum aims to bring together regional countries and international experts to discuss current challenges in the field of peaceful nuclear energy.
The sides also exchanged views on key issues on the international agenda. They stressed that long-term stability and sustainable development can only be achieved through constructive dialogue and mutual trust. /// nCa, 12 April 2026