A reception marking the 35th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan was held on 4 September 2026 at Tashkent Park in Ashgabat.
The event was hosted by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Turkmenistan. Uzbekistan’s Ambassador Ravshanbek Alimov and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Hojamyrat Geldimyradov addressed the guests with congratulatory remarks.
Welcoming the participants, Ravshanbek Alimov noted that the past 35 years had been a historically significant period for Uzbekistan, marked by serious challenges and major achievements. During this time, the country had charted its own path of development, strengthened its statehood, carried out profound economic and social transformations, and consolidated its position on the international stage.
According to the diplomat, large-scale and irreversible reforms aimed at building a “New Uzbekistan” are continuing today. Their key objectives are to create an economically strong, competitive and modern state, protect human rights and interests, and improve the well-being of the population.
“In Uzbekistan’s foreign policy, strengthening peace, stability, good-neighbourliness and an atmosphere of mutual trust in Central Asia is of particular strategic importance,” the Ambassador stressed.
Particular attention in his remarks was given to relations with Turkmenistan. Alimov noted that Uzbek-Turkmen ties today serve as an example of strategic partnership and good-neighbourliness, encompassing the political, trade and economic, transport, cultural and humanitarian spheres.
“Our countries engage fruitfully within regional and international organizations, take the initiative in deepening cooperation and building cooperative ties in Central Asia, and actively contribute to finding solutions to pressing issues on the regional agenda,” the diplomat said.
Interparliamentary dialogue is also developing, while cultural and humanitarian contacts continue to expand. The regular organization of Days of Culture and Cinema of the two countries has become another channel bringing the peoples of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan closer together.
Trade and economic ties featured prominently in the remarks. According to Hojamyrat Geldimyradov, trade turnover between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan reached $1.2 billion in 2025, an increase of nearly 60% compared with the previous year.
The positive trend has continued in 2026. From January through July, bilateral trade amounted to nearly $800 million, up 18% from the same period in 2025.
Ravshanbek Alimov said the two sides expect to increase bilateral trade to US $2 billion in the near future.
In the first seven months of 2026, Uzbekistan ranked fourth in Turkmenistan’s overall foreign trade.
The celebration continued with a concert programme. As Turkmen singers performed Uzbek pop songs, guests not only enjoyed the dance performances but also joined in the dancing themselves. Traditional Uzbek dishes, including plov and somsa, added to the festive atmosphere.
All guests also left the celebration with commemorative gifts: traditional scarves featuring Uzbek ornamentation and traditional men’s skullcaps.
Full Speech by Ambassador Ravshanbek Alimov
Dear Ambassadors, distinguished members of the diplomatic corps, dear compatriots, ladies and gentlemen, dear guests!
It is a great honour and a sincere pleasure for me to welcome you all and extend my warmest wishes on the occasion of today’s reception marking the 35th anniversary of the state independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It is being held in the picturesque Tashkent Park, located in the beautiful white-marble capital of brotherly Turkmenistan.
Independence is the greatest and most precious value for our people, a symbol of freedom, sovereignty, national pride and the right to determine our own destiny.
The past 35 years have been a historically significant period for Uzbekistan, marked by complex challenges and major achievements. Over these years, our country has charted its own path of development, strengthened its statehood, carried out large-scale transformations in the economic and social spheres, and secured a worthy and reliable place on the international stage.
On this landmark occasion, first and foremost, we pay our deepest respects to the bright memory of our ancestors who fought and worked selflessly for the freedom and prosperity of our country; to the great scholars and thinkers who preserved our national state heritage and spiritual values; to the Jadid educators; as well as to all patriots who have contributed to the development of our Motherland — Uzbekistan.
Today, under the leadership of the respected President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan is consistently continuing large-scale and irreversible reforms aimed at building a “New Uzbekistan”.
Their main goal is to create an economically powerful, competitive and modern state, ensure the rights and interests of the individual, and improve the well-being of the people.
Today, our national economy is developing at a steady pace, creating new opportunities for the private sector and entrepreneurship, while the state is gradually reducing its involvement in the economy. Uzbekistan is also steadily continuing its work towards accession to the World Trade Organization.
Improving the education and healthcare systems, investing in human capital, supporting young people and women, and creating decent living conditions for the population have become among the key priorities of state policy.
Large-scale efforts are also underway to ensure environmental sustainability. In particular, the nationwide “Yashil Makon” (“Green Space”) project is one of the important initiatives aimed at protecting the environment and making our country an even greener and more well-maintained place.
At the heart of all these reforms is one noble idea — the principle that “The interests and dignity of the Human Being come first.”
Dear guests!
In Uzbekistan’s foreign policy, strengthening peace, stability, good-neighbourliness and an atmosphere of mutual trust in Central Asia is of particular strategic importance.
Today, a new atmosphere of mutual understanding and trust is taking shape among the states of our region. Significant progress is being achieved in addressing such important issues as borders, transport, trade and economic ties, water resources, security and humanitarian cooperation, based on mutual interests and constructive dialogue.
We view this process as an important historic step towards building a “New Central Asia”.
In this regard, relations between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan today serve as a vivid example of strategic partnership and good-neighbourliness.
Our peoples are connected not only by a common border, but also by centuries of shared history, culture, spiritual values and sincere bonds of friendship.
Thanks to the open and trusting dialogue between the leaders of our countries — the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, respected Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and the President of Turkmenistan, respected Serdar Berdimuhamedov, as well as the National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, respected Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov — Uzbek-Turkmen cooperation is reaching a new level in the political, trade and economic, transport, and cultural and humanitarian spheres.
As the respected President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has emphasized: “Peace and trust are the foundation of shared prosperity.”
These words fully reflect the spirit of relations between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Indeed, friendship, mutual trust and good-neighbourliness between our peoples are a solid foundation for our strategic partnership.
We are convinced that the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two brotherly peoples will continue to be enriched with new content and contribute to the well-being of our peoples, as well as to strengthening peace and stability throughout Central Asia.
Our countries engage fruitfully within regional and international organizations, take the initiative in deepening cooperation and building cooperative ties in Central Asia, and actively contribute to finding solutions to pressing issues on the regional agenda.
Bilateral trade is growing year by year, having already exceeded $1.2 billion, and the two sides aim to reach $2 billion in the near future.
Interregional cooperation projects have been launched, the Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan Business Council mechanism is operating effectively, and the first-of-its-kind Shavat–Dashoguz Cross-Border Trade Zone has been opened.
Interparliamentary dialogue is being strengthened, cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere is actively expanding, and Days of Culture and Cinema of the two countries are held regularly.
In Uzbekistan, we sincerely rejoice at the achievements of brotherly Turkmenistan in socio-economic development and at the strengthening of the country’s standing on the international stage. Our country fully supports Turkmenistan’s peaceful and constructive international initiatives aimed at ensuring regional and global stability.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the leadership of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, all state bodies and partner organizations for their consistently high level of attention to and practical support for the activities of the diplomatic mission of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Turkmenistan.
I would also like to express my deep appreciation to the members of the diplomatic corps in Turkmenistan, our international partners and dear friends who make a worthy contribution to the development of friendly relations with our country.
Dear friends!
Today’s landmark occasion is not only an opportunity to look back on the 35-year path we have travelled, but also an important reason to look to the future with even greater confidence and good intentions.
Taking this opportunity, I once again wholeheartedly congratulate you all on the 35th anniversary of the state independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
I wish you and your families good health, happiness and well-being, peace, tranquillity and prosperity.
May the eternal bonds of friendship and brotherhood between the peoples of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan grow ever stronger!
May peace, prosperity, well-being and abundance come to every home where our Uzbek and brotherly Turkmen families live!
May our Independence be eternal!
Thank you for your attention!
///nCa, 5 September 2026
Here are some photos from the event:
