On February 21, a ceremonial reception was held in Ashgabat, organized by the Embassy of Japan in Turkmenistan in honor of the birthday of Emperor Naruhito of Japan.
The event was attended by high-ranking guests, including Turkmenistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov, heads of diplomatic missions accredited in the country, as well as representatives of international organizations, business circles and the media.
In his welcoming speech, delivered in the Turkmen language, Sasaki Hiroshi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Turkmenistan, emphasized the importance of friendly and partnership relations between Japan and Turkmenistan. He expressed gratitude to everyone who has contributed to strengthening ties between the two countries in recent years.
Special attention was paid to the upcoming visit of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to Japan in April this year as part of the opening of the World Expo 2025 in Osaka. The Ambassador stressed that he would do everything possible to make this visit successful and beneficial for both countries.
In his speech, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov conveyed congratulations from President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the occasion of Japan's National Holiday. The minister noted that this year marks the 33rd anniversary of diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and Japan.
The progress achieved extends to both political and diplomatic aspects as well as economic cooperation. Examples of effective collaboration include completed projects in chemical industry construction, power generation, and other sectors, made possible through partnerships with key Japanese companies such as Kawasaki, Mitsubishi, and Toyota.
The sphere of cultural and humanitarian cooperation also demonstrates positive dynamics. Universities of Turkmenistan actively collaborate with Japanese universities, and Japanese language is taught at six higher educational institutions and 12 schools across the country.
As part of the ceremonial reception, performances were given by Japanese art masters Ueda Chiho and Kikuchi Yutaka, who showcased their talents alongside representatives from Dovletmammet Azadi Turkmen National Institute of World Languages and Maya Kuliyeva Turkmen National Conservatory.
This year, marked by the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality and celebrated under the motto "International Year of Peace and Trust," is rich with cultural exchanges and events. During their visit to Ashgabat, Japanese art masters conducted a series of masterclasses for Turkmen students, further strengthening cultural ties between the two nations.
The birthday of Emperor Naruhito, celebrated on February 23, is an important national holiday in Japan. On this significant occasion, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov sent congratulations to Emperor Naruhito, expressing confidence in the further development of constructive and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
