On October 24, on the second day of his working visit to the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov participated as an honorary guest in the 16th BRICS Summit in the "BRICS Plus/Outreach" format held in Kazan.

In the morning, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov headed to the high-level forum venue – the Kazan Expo International Exhibition Center.

After a joint photo session with the heads of delegations from over 30 foreign countries, leaders of international organizations, including the UN, SCO, and CIS, as well as the president of the New Development Bank, participated in the plenary session of the 16th BRICS Summit in the "BRICS Plus/Outreach" format.

As previously reported, the BRICS organization was established in 2006 during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and has since become one of the most authoritative and influential global structures.

The name of the organization is an acronym of the initial letters of the first five member countries: the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Russian Federation, the Republic of India, the People's Republic of China, and the Republic of South Africa, which joined in 2011. Subsequently, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia joined BRICS as new full members.

Cooperation within this interstate association is based on the principles of sovereign equality, mutual consideration of interests, openness, and consensus, making it attractive to other countries worldwide.

Given the growing interest from potential partners, the "BRICS Plus" format was created, providing a platform for constructive dialogue on global contemporary issues. A vivid example of this is the focus on sustainable development and mutually beneficial economic cooperation, the directions of which are determined at annual summits and high-level multilateral meetings.

Warmly welcoming the participants and honorary guests of the 16th BRICS Summit, held under the Russian presidency with the motto "Strengthening Multilateralism for Fair Global Development and Security," President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin emphasized that the well-established expanded "BRICS Plus/Outreach" format provides an opportunity for direct and open dialogue between the members of the association and their friends and partners.

The floor was then given to the participants of the meeting, including leaders of CIS countries, states of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, as well as heads of executive bodies of several international organizations interested in establishing closer partnerships with BRICS.

Thanking President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation for the hospitality and warm reception, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that Turkmenistan is participating in the BRICS Summit in the "BRICS Plus/Outreach" format for the first time and expressed gratitude for the invitation to such a representative event, which is regarded as a respectful attitude towards our country.

As noted, Turkmenistan actively participates in the efforts of the international community aimed at achieving and establishing principles of cooperation, mutual respect, and consideration of interests in the world. Our country uses its neutral status to promote a peacekeeping agenda, ensure global and regional security, and establish a culture of equal dialogue, trust, and predictability in interstate relations.

– An important component of Turkmenistan's foreign policy course is the application of the neutrality model, preventive diplomacy tools to prevent conflict situations, and eliminate their root causes, – emphasized the head of state, expressing confidence that in the current conditions, the basic principles of neutrality are objectively in demand and, with the support of the international community, can bring real benefits in ensuring regional and global security.

In this context, the special significance and high efficiency of the activities of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, headquartered in Ashgabat, were noted.

– As a responsible state, Turkmenistan proposes a number of measures aimed at normalizing and improving the international situation and transitioning to constructive interaction parameters, – emphasized President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in his speech, reminding that our country has made several serious proposals at the UN. These include the development of a Global Security Strategy, the initiative to grant neutral countries the status of priority partners of the UN in its peacekeeping efforts, as well as several proposals in the context of creating and strengthening regional security and stability.

A landmark event in this context was the unanimous support of the UN General Assembly for Turkmenistan's initiative to declare the next year, 2025, the International Year of Peace and Trust. We expect that all states will take the most active part in implementing the provisions of the relevant General Assembly Resolution, continued the head of state.

As noted, Turkmenistan's international strategy relies on the country's involvement in modern geoeconomic trends, proactive participation in solving current problems of our time, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, overcoming crisis situations in the environmental and food sectors, and creating and establishing equal, fair, and reliable access routes for countries and peoples to energy sources, clean water, and air.

– For this, our state also takes active and responsible positions, – emphasized President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, focusing on the importance of Turkmenistan's initiatives in the fields of economy, energy, and sustainable transport. In particular, it involves the development of a Global Framework Program for the transition to a circular economy, the creation of a Global Atlas of Sustainable Transport Connectivity, and an Alliance for Global Energy Security and Sustainable Development.

– In general, speaking about the current global geoeconomic trends, Turkmenistan highlights one of their defining problems – the increasing importance of developing countries. They are largely called upon to bring new energy to the established but already requiring constructive revision old schemes of world order, to bring new meaning and purpose to them.

As noted, in matters of environmental interaction, Turkmenistan prioritizes the protection and preservation of the natural landscape in Central Asia, marine resources, and biodiversity in the Caspian Sea, and the rational use of water and water-energy resources of these regions based on the interests of partners and generally recognized norms of international law.

– Turkmenistan attaches great importance to international cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, including solving the problems of refugees and stateless persons, – stated President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

– Our country also considers it important to give due impetus to cooperation in the cultural, scientific, and educational fields. Expanding knowledge about each other, the mutual penetration of cultures, traditions, and unique art is a beneficial process that unites peoples on healthy, creative foundations, – noted the head of state.

In conclusion of his speech, the President of Turkmenistan once again thanked the organizers for the invitation to participate in the current meeting, the opportunity to speak and share opinions and proposals, as well as for the conditions created for the successful and productive work of the forum.

Thanking President Serdar Berdimuhamedov for his substantive speech, the chairman of the Summit noted the importance of many raised issues and positive initiatives put forward by neutral Turkmenistan.

Continuing the Summit, UN Secretary-General António Guterres spoke in support of multilateralism in solving international problems, calling for acting together as one big family to cope with the challenges of modernity.

During the interested exchange of views on key directions and measures to deepen multilateral dialogue on the BRICS platform, the participants of the meeting confirmed their common interest in developing new mechanisms to fully unlock the enormous potential for comprehensive expansion of equal, trusting, and mutually beneficial cooperation.

At the end of the two-day working visit program, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov headed to the Gabdulla Tukay International Airport in Kazan, from where he departed for his homeland.

After a three-hour flight, the airliner landed at Ashgabat International Airport, where the head of the Turkmen state was met by officials who congratulated President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on a successful visit.

On the same day, members of the government delegation accompanying President Serdar Berdimuhamedov met with Turkmen students studying at higher educational institutions in the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation.

As a memento of today's meeting, our young compatriots were presented with a collection of poems by Makhtumkuli Fraghi, specially published for the 300th anniversary of this outstanding master of words.

Thanking for the invaluable gift, the gathered emphasized the special significance of the great creative and philosophical heritage of the world-famous classic of Turkmen literature and humanist of the East, Makhtumkuli Fraghi, who always called for peace, friendship, and harmony. As noted, today these principles form the basis of the peaceful foreign policy course pursued by independent neutral Turkmenistan.

Expressing their sincere gratitude to the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Hero-Arkadag, and President Serdar Berdimuhamedov for their constant care and attention to Turkmen youth, creating conditions for the harmonious development of the younger generations, the students, in turn, assured that they would strive to become high-level specialists to benefit their sovereign homeland and native people.