On January 22, 2026, the Moscow Office of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) hosted the first event held in the Commonwealth under Turkmenistan’s chairmanship – a meeting of the Commission on Economic Affairs under the CIS Economic Council.
Speaking at the meeting, Turkmenistan’s Plenipotentiary Representative, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the Russian Federation, and Chairman of the Economic Affairs Commission, E.Aydogdyev, emphasized that Turkmenistan has approached this important mission with the utmost responsibility, fully understanding the scale and scope of the tasks that must be addressed together.
E.Aydogdyev briefed the audience on the key areas of the Concept for Turkmenistan’s Presidency of the CIS in 2026. It was emphasized that, in the political sphere, the state’s activities will be aimed at strengthening regional security and trust, promoting the principles of neutrality, and intensifying diplomatic interaction to strengthen the CIS’s role as a platform for peaceful dialogue and mutual understanding.
As emphasized, Turkmenistan intends to use its chairmanship to advance initiatives aimed at strengthening economic, transport, and energy cooperation. The primary reference point here is the CIS Economic Development Strategy for the Period up to 2030.
Particular attention will be paid to the CIS’s logistics potential as a link between the regions of Eurasia, the Caspian, Central Asia, and the Middle East. In this context, Turkmenistan will propose declaring 2027 the «Year of CIS Transport Connectivity».
The humanitarian dimension will be a key focus of Turkmenistan’s chairmanship. Our country believes that cooperation in education, science, culture, tourism, and media will contribute to strengthening mutual understanding and preserving the spiritual heritage of the peoples of the Commonwealth.
According to E.Aydogdyev, Turkmenistan will traditionally pay close attention to environmental issues and sustainable development, particularly cooperation in renewable energy and the protection of the Caspian region’s biodiversity. In this regard, the country will make efforts to convene the Second Caspian Environmental Forum in 2026.
In conclusion, E.Aydogdyev expressed confidence that Turkmenistan’s chairmanship of the Commonwealth will significantly strengthen the CIS’s position as a platform for equal cooperation and trust, serve to expand economic and transport ties between member states, and harmonize new approaches to the pressing challenges of the 21st century.
Those gathered warmly congratulated the representative on the beginning of Turkmenistan’s chairmanship of the CIS, assured him of their full support, and wished him success in his upcoming important work.
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On the same day, E.Aydogdyev met with the CIS Secretary General S.Lebedev.
During the conversation, an exchange of views took place on joint work within the framework of Turkmenistan’s chairmanship of the CIS in 2026, and the implementation of planned events at a high organizational and substantive level.
S.Lebedev assured the Ambassador that the Executive Committee will provide all necessary assistance for the successful operation of Turkmenistan and the implementation of the provisions of the Concept of the country’s chairmanship in the CIS