Meeting with the Deputy Director-General of UNESCO

On December 13, 2025, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov, and the Deputy Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Xing Qu, who arrived in Ashgabat to take part in events dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust, the International Day of Neutrality, and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent Neutrality.

Extending congratulations on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the country’s neutral status, the Deputy Director-General of UNESCO emphasized the significance of the high-level representative Forum, which made a substantial contribution to achieving common goals in ensuring peace, stability, and sustainable development.

During the meeting, the sides noted the high level of cooperation between Turkmenistan and UNESCO. Particular attention was paid to the significance of the inclusion of the national nomination “The Art of Breeding the Turkmen Alabai” in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This decision was adopted on December 11 of the current year at the session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in New Delhi, India.

The sides also exchanged views on specific areas of the upcoming cooperation agenda and considered practical aspects of implementing joint projects.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the sides reaffirmed their mutual commitment to further expanding cooperation in the fields of education, science, and culture, as well as in the preservation of tangible and intangible heritage.