UN General Assembly adopts the resolution on sustainable transport initiated by Turkmenistan

Reporting during the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov informed that the Resolution "Strengthening the links between all modes of transport to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals", which was initiatiated by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, was adopted in the framework of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York on December 20, 2017.

It was noted that the foreign policy of Turkmenistan prioritized the enhancement and expansion of the fruitful, multilateral cooperation on the strategic issues of the global agenda, including the transport sector. The creative initiatives, put forward by the President of Turkmenistan in this important area, as well as in other crucial spheres, were widely welcomed by the world community that is vividly proved by the relevant resolutions adopted the UN General Assembly in recent years.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized the strategic importance of the constructive initiatives, put forward by the Turkmen leader, not only for our country and the region, but for the whole world as well.

Congratulating President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on this great foreign-policy victory, the Vice-Premier wished the President strong health and new outstanding achievements in his multifaceted activities.

Commenting on the report, the Turkmen leader underlined the importance of the adoption of the Resolution "Strengthening the links between all modes of transport to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals" that supports the efforts of the Government of Turkmenistan to organize the first UN Global Conference on Sustainable Transport and the Ashgabat Statement on Commitments and Policy Recommendations of the Global Sustainable Transport Conference. The Ashgabat Declaration - the outcome document of the High-level International Conference on the Role of Transport and Transit Corridors in Ensuring International Cooperation that was held in the Turkmen capital in 2014 was also taken into consideration.

In this regard, the President expressed his sincere gratitude to the states - co-sponsors of the above-mentioned resolution, as well as to the other UN members that supported it. The Turkmen leader noted that this was not the first resolution of the UN General Assembly on the transport issue. This fact, as well as the election of our country the chair of the 2017 Energy Charter Conference testify to the general support and the high assessmet of the policy of independent neutral Turkmenistan by the international community.

Congratulating all those present on this remarkable event, the Turkmen leader wished the meeting participants strong health, prosperity and great success in their activities in the name of the further prosperity of the state, which strengthens its authority on the international arena with every passing day.

The President instructed Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs R. Meredov, based on the resolution of the UN General Assembly, to submit the proposals on the organisation of the next Global Conference on Sustainable Transport in Ashgabat or in the Avaza National Tourism Zone.

Chairperson of the Mejlis A.Nurberdiyeva was instructed to analyze the relevant laws and make appropriate changes, in particular, related to the proposals of the UN General Assembly on the regional and interregional integration and development of cooperation. The President of Turkmenistan emphasized that it was also necessary to improve the planning of the transport infrastructure, and at the same time to ensure the increase and improvement of the optimality of transport communication.