President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov cordially congratulated the participants of the International Conference "International Year of Peace and Trust: the Role of Interregional Economic Cooperation in ensuring Sustainable Development", which began its work in Ashgabat.

The forum is dedicated to the celebration of the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality.

"This forum plays a great role in ensuring economic stability in the Central and South Asian region, effective implementation of energy, transport and infrastructure projects, as well as in increasing investment potential in relevant areas," the welcoming address says.

There are ample opportunities in the Central and East Asian region to intensify the implementation of international projects and establish multilateral cooperation. Turkmenistan is actively implementing regional energy, transport and infrastructure projects, and consistently developing mutually beneficial partnerships with countries around the world and major international organizations. All this is of great geopolitical and geo-economic importance and plays an important role in ensuring energy security in the region, interconnection of transport and transit corridors, and active attraction of investments in national and regional projects. In this regard, guided by best practices, national programs are based on important tasks related to economic development through diversification.

"Our country is establishing constructive partnerships with the countries of the world, international organizations and leading companies. In this context, the development of energy and transport systems and the implementation of other infrastructure projects are among the main vectors of interaction. We see great potential in regional cooperation in these areas. Being one of the energy-powerful states in the region, Turkmenistan is becoming a crossroads of international transport and transit corridors. This is clearly evidenced by the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly, on the initiative of our neutral country, of resolutions related to the transport sector and energy security, as well as major projects implemented in these areas in recent years," the President notes.

As a result of large investments in energy, transport and infrastructure projects, the strength of the country's national economy is being strengthened. The active participation of reputable international organizations, including international financial institutions, in the implementation of these projects, which provide for the overall development of the countries of the region, opens up new opportunities in expanding foreign economic relations and developing the economy through diversification.

"I am firmly convinced that the conference will become an important platform for the exchange of experience in issues related to ensuring sustainable development in all areas of the region's economies, the introduction of modern innovations and investment opportunities," the head of state concluded, wishing the conference delegates good health, family well-being and great success in their work.