During a meeting at the headquarters in Brussels with Ariadna Petridis, Secretary-General of the Benelux Union, Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Belgium Sapar Palwanov proposed exploring the possibility of a mutual visa waiver for holders of diplomatic and service passports between Turkmenistan and the Benelux nations (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg). This was reported by the press service of the Turkmen Embassy.

The meeting highlighted that expanding cooperation between Turkmenistan and the European Union, along with an increased frequency of dialogues, political consultations, and expert meetings, has led to a rise in mutual visits and official communications. Ambassador Palwanov noted that waiving visa requirements for diplomatic passport holders could serve as a practical mechanism to support this momentum, facilitating high-level visits and strengthening institutional interaction.

Secretary-General Ariadna Petridis outlined the Benelux Union's established experience and rules in this area, expressing readiness within the Secretariat's authority to facilitate further discussions on the matter.

Furthermore, the parties discussed exchanging experiences regarding regional cooperation between the Benelux Union and Central Asian countries. The Turkmen side expressed keen interest in Benelux’s long-standing experience in inter-state coordination and sustainable regional mechanisms. Welcoming the initiative, Petridis noted that cooperation among Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg currently spans key areas including security, energy, climate change, sustainable development, and the economy.

Additionally, Ambassador Palwanov shared details on preparations for a major international equestrian competition taking place on September 4–6, 2026, at the Peelbergen Equestrian Centre in Kronenberg, Netherlands, inviting Benelux representatives to attend the event.