On Tuesday, 7 October 2025, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman paid an official visit to Turkmenistan, where he met with President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Parliament Speaker Dünýägözel Gulmanova, and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Minister Rašid Meredov.
In Ashgabat, Grlić Radman also attended the opening of the Croatia-Turkmenistan Business Forum, accompanied by a business delegation composed of representatives of the Croatian Chamber of Economy and senior executives of Croatian companies. The delegation also included State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy Goran Romek and Vice President of the Croatian Chamber of Economy Igor Pokaz.
During his stay in Ashgabat, Grlić Radman and Meredov ceremoniously signed the Programme of Cooperation between the two ministries for 2026 and 2027, which will guide bilateral cooperation between Croatia and Turkmenistan over the next two years. The Programme aims to deepen dialogue and strengthen practical cooperation in areas of mutual interest - political, economic, and cultural. Both ministers expressed their commitment to implementing the Programme in a spirit of friendship, trust, and partnership.
The meetings also reflected satisfaction with the cooperation within multilateral organizations and reaffirmed a shared desire to enhance parliamentary and cultural exchanges, especially in light of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Croatia and Turkmenistan in 2026.
The interlocutors exchanged views on current regional and global geopolitical developments. For Croatia, Turkmenistan represents a valuable partner in Central Asia and a bridge connecting Europe with Central, South, and East Asia.
Grlić Radman underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation between the European Union and Turkmenistan. As an EU Member State, Croatia supports the advancement of EU-Turkmenistan relations based on mutual trust, respect, and sustainable growth.
Alongside the Business Forum, which brought together Croatian and Turkmen companies, the 4th Session of the Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation between Croatia and Turkmenistan was also held. These two events reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to further strengthening their economic ties and provided a valuable framework for the continued development of bilateral cooperation.
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