Ashgabat hosted an international conference on peace, sustainable development and migration, bringing together representatives of Central Asian countries. The event, initiated by Turkmenistan in the context of the UN Resolution on the International Year of Peace and Trust, emphasizes the fundamental importance of trust in global and regional politics.
The conference in a hybrid format was attended by representatives of government agencies dealing with migration and migration policy issues from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Experts and representatives of international organizations from countries with advanced experience in the region, including Azerbaijan, Iran, the Russian Federation and Turkey, were also invited.
Speakers at the openingof the conference noted that the forum is intended to become a platform for the practical implementation of the principles of peace and mutual respect, especially in the context of migration processes, the protection of migrants’ rights and environmental sustainability. Participants discussed key areas of critical importance for regional development and stability.
The first session was devoted to modern approaches to identification of individuals and document regulation, during which an exchange of experience took place to improve the security and efficiency of migration management, and issues of combating document falsification and illegal migration were discussed.
The second session on environmental challenges and their impact on migration considered the consequences of climate change and environmental degradation for migration, as well as international initiatives to adapt to climate change.
The third session addressed the issues of eradicating statelessness, their ways and legal solutions. Speakers also noted the importance of international cooperation in eradicating statelessness.
The fourth session, “The Future of Migration: Innovations and Digital Solutions,” discussed global trends in the use of digital technologies, such as electronic visas, digital migration cards and the role of artificial intelligence in managing migration processes to ensure transparency and security.
The theme of the fifth session was “Regional Cooperation: Peace and Trust as the Basis for Migration Policy”. Discussions focused on cooperation mechanisms, exchange of best practices in managing migration flows and identification of promising areas of interaction for sustainable development.
Holding this significant event in Ashgabat confirms the active role of Turkmenistan in initiating and supporting dialogue on key global and regional issues, contributing to strengthening peace, sustainable development and improving migration processes in Central Asia.