The city of Termez in Uzbekistan, located near the border with Afghanistan, has launched the Termez Dialogue on Connectivity between Central and South Asia. Held under the slogan "Building a Common Space of Peace, Friendship, and Prosperity," the forum immediately impressed with its impeccable organization and strong commitment from all participants to engage in constructive dialogue, according to Orient.tm.
More than 200 delegates from Central and South Asian countries are attending the event, alongside participants from Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and the Asia-Pacific region. The forum brings together representatives from political and economic sectors, the business community, financial institutions, international and regional organizations, as well as leading experts from global think tanks and research centers. The professional efforts of the organizing team—including the often unseen yet vital work of interpreters—have ensured effective communication among participants.
The opening ceremony featured speeches by Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan, and Ulugbek Kosimov, Governor of the Surkhandarya region.
Security, Stability, and Development: A Dialogue of Senior Diplomats
The first session of the forum focused on comprehensive dialogue and multilateral cooperation for security, stability, and sustainable development. It was moderated by Bakhtiyor Aloev, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.
Key speakers included deputy foreign ministers from Afghanistan (Muhammad Naeem Wardak), Kazakhstan (Yermukhamet Konuspaev), Kyrgyzstan (Temirbek Erkinov), and Tajikistan (Special Representative Khisrav Sohibzoda). Of particular note was the address by Ahmet Gurbanov, Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan, who presented Ashgabat’s official stance on pressing regional and global issues.
Turkmenistan’s Position: Peace, Trust, and Connectivity as the Foundations of Prosperity
In his remarks, Ahmet Gurbanov emphasized the deep historical ties and centuries-long friendship between the peoples of Central and South Asia. He stressed the importance of open dialogue as a foundation for future partnerships. According to Gurbanov, today’s complex challenges require coordinated solutions, mutual understanding, and joint efforts to ensure peace, strategic stability, and security across the region.
Turkmenistan views the restoration and reinforcement of mutual trust among nations as a key condition for countering regional threats. This trust, in turn, should serve as the foundation for creating political and diplomatic conditions for constructive engagement. In this context, Gurbanov highlighted the importance and timeliness of the UN General Assembly resolution—initiated by Turkmenistan and adopted unanimously—declaring 2025 the International Year of Peace and Trust. Turkmenistan sees this as a real opportunity to shift international relations toward a new phase, with a focus on regional security built on UN resolutions such as "Zone of Peace, Trust, and Cooperation in Central Asia."
He also identified the Afghan issue as central to regional peace and security. As a neutral state, Turkmenistan supports international efforts aimed at achieving peace, civil harmony, and economic recovery in Afghanistan. Gurbanov noted that Ashgabat’s approach is well-considered, aligned with the policies of Afghan authorities and international realities, and based on inclusive dialogue in accordance with UN principles.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
May 20, 2025