High-Level Dialogue on Global Health Diplomacy Began in Ashgabat

The international training seminar titled "High-Level Dialogue on Global Health Diplomacy" commenced in the conference hall of the "Ýyldyz" Hotel in the capital. The organization of this large-scale forum is yet another clear testimony to the triumph of our country's creative foreign policy, based on the principles of positive neutrality and humanism.

The workshop is aimed at creating an effective platform for uniting the efforts of the international community in addressing the urgent issues of our time. In an era of global changes, Turkmenistan's initiatives to develop medical diplomacy serve as an essential condition for ensuring peace and sustainable development. The high-level representation of participants shows the international community's great interest in learning from our country's experience in modernizing the healthcare system. Bringing together politicians, doctors, and scientists, this international forum aims to develop qualitatively new mechanisms of international cooperation for the benefit of all humanity.

The forum, jointly organized by the Government of Turkmenistan and the World Health Organization, is attended by heads of major international structures, prominent diplomats, representatives of the Ministries of Health of regional countries, and authoritative experts. Hosting such a significant event in Ashgabat is a recognition of our country's active role in promoting humanitarian principles on the world stage. The fact that its opening coincided with the eve of the Day of Diplomatic Workers of the country and the Year of Healthcare declared within the framework of Turkmenistan's chairmanship in the CIS adds special meaning to the event.

The representative of the Turkmen side, welcoming the forum participants, noted that the modern era requires new approaches to solving global problems in the medical field. Today, healthcare is not only a professional field but also an important condition of foreign policy. In this regard, Turkmenistan views medical diplomacy as an effective tool for strengthening trust and solidarity between nations. It was emphasized that all initiatives of the National Leader (Gahryman Arkadag) and the Honorable President are aimed at the well-being of people. In 2025, Turkmenistan, recognizing health protection as the foundation of global stability, actively promoted the initiative "Medicine of the Future — Solidarity and Cooperation."

Hans Kluge, the Regional Director of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, also spoke at the opening ceremony of the forum. He expressed his sincere gratitude to the Government of Turkmenistan for consistently supporting the WHO's efforts. As the guest noted, Turkmenistan's policy of positive neutrality is a clear example of serving the interests of healthcare and preventive diplomacy.

During the discussions, special attention was paid to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. According to the general opinion of the forum participants, the WHO's "Health in All Policies" principle is crucial for creating sustainable life-support systems. Solving issues such as education, ecology, and economic stability, which are the basic conditions for ensuring health, requires coordinated efforts. United Nations representatives emphasized in their speeches that healthcare is inextricably linked with international peace. The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Central Asia and the Head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia highlighted Turkmenistan's important role as a reliable platform for developing joint solutions in this area. Importance was also given to cooperation within the Commonwealth. The greeting sent by the CIS Secretary-General to the forum participants emphasizes Turkmenistan's role in strengthening cooperation across the organization's space. Joint efforts to prevent infectious and non-communicable diseases remain a priority for the Commonwealth countries this year as well.

During the meeting, the heads of delegations from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia also shared their experiences and views. Their speeches focused on the exchange of experience in training personnel in specific areas of regional cooperation and the introduction of innovative technologies in medicine. The Vice-Rector of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations spoke about the theoretical foundations of health diplomacy. The UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan noted the high level of cooperation between the organization and our country. It was emphasized that the consistent work carried out in Turkmenistan to integrate international standards into national legislation and the healthcare system is yielding positive results today.

During the forum, the importance of the Ashgabat Declaration on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in Turkmenistan was noted. This document defines preventive measures and a healthy lifestyle as priority directions and serves as a guide in cooperation with regional countries in this field. The Turkmen side reaffirmed its readiness to coordinate efforts in solving important issues of international cooperation. As noted, Turkmenistan's policy based on permanent neutrality creates favorable conditions for open and effective dialogue on urgent issues of the global agenda.

After the conclusion of the official part of the first day, the moderator thanked the participants for their deep and meaningful speeches. It was emphasized that the first day of the international training seminar laid a solid foundation for further analytical work and the development of specific recommendations. Forum participants noted the high organizational level of the event and expressed their gratitude for the hospitality shown on Turkmen soil.

The results of the first day of the international high-level dialogue on global health diplomacy showed that Ashgabat is confidently strengthening its position as an intellectual center of the region. The event will continue its work until February 18.