Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by telephone on October 7, a day before they are due to meet in person at the Avaza National Tourist Zone on the Caspian coast.
Berdimuhamedov called to congratulate Putin on his birthday. Putin thanked him and described bilateral relations as built on equality, mutual respect and good-neighborliness. He also credited the Turkmen leader with helping to strengthen interstate dialogue, and sent greetings to Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the current Halk Maslahaty chairman, and the National Leader of Turkmenistan, who holds the title “Arkadag.”
According to the Turkmen side’s account, Berdimuhamedov said that developing strategic cooperation with Russia remains a priority of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy. He noted that the two countries work closely on political, diplomatic, trade, economic and cultural issues, maintain regular high-level contact, and coordinate through intergovernmental and interagency channels. They also cooperate within the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Berdimuhamedov said Thursday’s meeting with Putin at Avaza would allow the two leaders to discuss pressing items on the bilateral agenda. Both presidents are also expected to attend the CIS Heads of State Council and the Caspian Environmental Summit in Avaza. Berdimuhamedov expressed confidence that these gatherings would strengthen dialogue within the CIS and contribute to environmental stability in the Caspian region. /// nCa, 8 October 2026