On 26 February 2026, the Foreign Ministers of the Central Asian countries and the United Kingdom convened at Lancaster House to explore opportunities for strengthening political dialogue and broadening cooperation in trade, economic, and investment spheres, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. This was reported by Turkmenistan: Golden Age.
In his remarks, Turkmenistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rashid Meredov, thanked the British side for initiating the inaugural ministerial meeting in the “Central Asia – United Kingdom” format, highlighting its relevance at a time when regional cohesion in Central Asia is gaining momentum.
The participants underlined the shared aspiration of Central Asian states to develop resilient and competitive economies capable of effectively addressing global challenges. Within this framework, several priority areas for cooperation with the United Kingdom were identified.
These included collaboration in energy and decarbonization—such as modernizing the oil and gas industry, introducing advanced hydrocarbon processing technologies, and expanding renewable energy projects. Other key areas encompassed financial and trade innovation, drawing on London’s status as a major global financial hub; professional services, including legal, consulting, and auditing expertise; as well as enhanced transport and logistics partnerships to bolster the region’s transit capacity.
Concluding his address, Minister Meredov reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s commitment to constructive and results-oriented cooperation, both within the newly established format and through bilateral channels, with an emphasis on achieving tangible and mutually advantageous outcomes.
The meeting also featured discussions on regional developments and broader international issues.
compiled by Sona ABAYEVA,
student of the Institute of International Relations
of the MFA of Turkmenistan.
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