CENTRAL COMMISSION FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS IN TURKMENISTAN

On April 13-15, 2025, esteemed President Serdar Berdimuhamedov paid a working visit to the friendly country of Japan. Our Hero Arkadagly Serdar attended the opening ceremony of the World EXPO-2025 in Osaka.

Under the wise leadership of our esteemed President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Turkmenistan is successfully implementing a foreign policy strategy, based on the principles of positive Neutrality, peacefulness, good neighborliness and equal cooperation at the regional and global levels. This strategy, which was laid by our Hero Arkadag, further strengthens the international authority of our country. Great significance is attached to the expansion of trade-economic ties with the countries of the world. Turkmenistan attaches great significance to the expansion of trade-economic ties with the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, including cooperation with Japan. The country’s participation in the EXPO-2025 exhibition – is a vivid confirmation of this.

During his visit to Japan, our esteemed President Serdar Berdimuhamedov met with the head of the Japan-Turkmenistan Interparliamentary Friendship Group Endo Toshiaki. E. Toshiaki warmly welcomed the head of state, sincerely congratulated him on his first visit to Japan and noted that this visit would give a new impulse to further strengthening bilateral cooperation. He also took the opportunity to express his warm greetings to Hero Arkadag, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan. Our esteemed President expressed gratitude for the kind words and conveyed the greetings of the National Leader to the head of the Interparliamentary Friendship Group.

Endo Toshiaki expressed his sincere gratitude to our esteemed President and Hero Arkadag for their great personal contribution to the development of cooperation between the two friendly countries.

The World EXPO-2025 – is a unique international event that unites countries, companies and organizations to showcase their achievements, new technologies and cultures. The first World’s Fair was held in London in 1851. Over the 174-year history of the World’s Fair, Japan has become the venue for such a prestigious exhibition for the third time. As you know, it is very gratifying that Turkmenistan had the honor to be one of the first to celebrate its National Day among almost 160 countries participating in this large-scale event.

The “Grand Ring” surrounds the EXPO-2025 venue, which will be held from April 13 to October 13, 2025 on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka. The “Grand Ring” is a wooden structure 2 kilometers long and 20 meters high. It is already listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest indoor wooden structure. The Osaka exhibition is organized around three themes: “Saving lives”, “Expanding life opportunities” and “Union Lives”, the national pavilion of Turkmenistan is located in the “Expanding Life Opportunities” section.

Then President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the Minister for the World EXPO-2025 Ito Yoshitaka, took part in the opening ceremony of the National Day of Turkmenistan and delivered a speech there.

The Head of State sincerely congratulated the participants of the ceremony on the opening of the National Day of Turkmenistan at the World Exhibition EXPO-2025, wished the participants great success and expressed deep gratitude to the organizers for the excellent conditions created.

As our Hero Arkadagly Serdar emphasized, the World Exhibition has a special significance for Turkmenistan. The exhibition is timed to coincide with the proclamation by the UN General Assembly of 2025 as the “International Year of Peace and Trust”. Peace, trust and equality must become the foundation of global economic relations. Celebrating its National Day, Turkmenistan confirmed its readiness to cooperate with the countries of the world and implement joint initiatives in various fields. Inspired performances by Turkmen cultural and artistic figures in Japan gave the ceremony a festive touch.

To the wild applause of the ceremony participants the Head of State cuts the ribbon of the national pavilion. Then esteemed President and officials of Japan visited the national pavilion of Turkmenistan. The rounded triangle shape of Turkmenistan’s pavilion symbolizes renewal and sustainable development. The roof of the building is inspired by one of the ancient ornaments of the Turkmen people — “Gulyaka” and the exterior design is inspired by the Karakum desert.

Then, as part of his visit to Japan, our esteemed President held high-level talks and meetings in Tokyo. The Head of State also met with Emperor Naruhito, Prime Minister of Japan Shigeru Ishiba, President of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation Hayashi Nobumitsu and President of the University of Tsukuba Kyosuke Nagata. During the meeting ceremony was held to award President Serdar Berdimuhamedov with an honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Tsukuba. Our esteemed President also held a meeting with representatives of the Japanese business community and invited Japanese businessmen to participate as honorary guests in the international forum to be held in Ashgabat on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent Neutrality.

Thus, the participation of Head of State Serdar Berdimuhamedov in the World EXPO-2025 in Osaka as part of his working visit to Japan and holding of high-level bilateral talks in Tokyo will be an important step towards further expansion of Turkmen-Japanese cooperation.