President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov received the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of the Republic of Seychelles, Barry Faure, who arrived in Ashgabat on his first official visit, as the two countries signaled a shared interest in expanding bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors.
The visit, which also included talks with Turkmenistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov, was described by both sides as an important step toward strengthening ties and advancing relations in areas of mutual interest. During the meetings, the parties emphasized the importance of maintaining an active political and diplomatic dialogue, including through reciprocal visits at high and the highest levels.
A central focus of the discussions was the development of trade and economic cooperation. President Berdimuhamedov highlighted the export potential of Turkmenistan’s national economy, pointing to promising areas such as the fuel and energy complex, the chemical and textile industries, and agriculture. The foreign ministers, in turn, discussed practical pathways for boosting economic engagement, including the organization of joint business forums, exhibitions, and trade fairs, as well as fostering direct contacts between the business communities of the two countries.
Both sides also underlined the importance of strengthening the legal and contractual framework underpinning bilateral relations. In this regard, they expressed readiness to work toward agreements that would facilitate cooperation in key sectors such as transport, textiles, and tourism.
Cooperation within international organizations, particularly the United Nations, was another important topic. The Turkmen side expressed gratitude for Seychelles’ support of its international initiatives and extended an invitation to join the Group of Friends of Neutrality.
Humanitarian and cultural ties featured prominently in the discussions as well. The two sides explored opportunities for collaboration in education, science, and culture, including proposals to organize meetings between ministries and to hold Days of Culture in Ashgabat and Victoria. Tourism was identified as a particularly promising area, with both sides noting significant potential for exchanging experience and promoting mutual tourist flows.
President Berdimuhamedov also invited the Seychellois side to take an active part in international exhibitions and conferences hosted in Turkmenistan, as part of broader efforts to deepen engagement.
The meetings also included an exchange of views on regional and international issues, reflecting a shared interest in maintaining dialogue on the broader global agenda.
At the conclusion of the visit, both Turkmenistan and the Republic of Seychelles reaffirmed their commitment to developing constructive and mutually beneficial cooperation, signaling a positive trajectory for bilateral relations.
In the earlier leg of his tour, Barry Faure visited Taikistan. /// nCa, 30 April 2026