Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov held online meeting with United Nations Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Olga Algayerova.
During the meeting, it was emphasized that Turkmenistan had remainsed committed to the development of cooperation with the UNECE, in particular, in strengthening the transport and transit potential of the region, expansion, trade and economic ties and integration, maintaining environmental safety and energy efficiency.
The parties underlined the effectiveness of the long-term interaction of Turkmenistan with the UN European Economic Commission in a wide range of areas. The important role of the UNECE in coordinating relations between the countries of Europe and Asia in the field of transport, trade, energy, and environmental protection was underlined.
Speaking about the importance of sustainable transport, the parties noted the positive experience of cooperation within the framework of the Inland Transport Committee (ITC). The Turkmen side expressed interest in expanding the partnership through active participation in the meetings of the ITC working groups on international road transport, harmonization of cargo transportation and transport routes.
The parties also discussed the issues of cooperation within the framework of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA). In this aspect, the efficiency of the chairmanship of Turkmenistan in SPECA in 2019 was underlined.
The Turkmen side expressed interest in developing cooperation with the SPECA countries in order to strengthen the regional market and cross-border supply channels, which will have a beneficial effect on the economic integration of the SPECA countries, attracting investments, technologies and innovations.
The parties discussed the prospects for cooperation, taking into account the proposals of the UNECE and ESCAP experts.As is known, the UN Economic Commission for Europe and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific supported the Programme.
In this context, the issues of improving the structure and reforming the activities of this Programme were raised, including the establishment of the SPECA Trust Fund and its Secretariat.
The parties also exchanged views on expanding cooperation with the UNECE in the format of the Framework Programme for Cooperation on Sustainable Development between Turkmenistan and the UN for the period 2021-2025.