Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov met with UN Deputy Secretary-General Rabab Fatima in Ashgabat on Monday. During the meeting, they discussed preparations for the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3), which Turkmenistan will host in the second half of this year, as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

Both sides emphasized the importance of the upcoming conference and its significance for sustainable development, improving transport and digital connectivity, and ensuring food and environmental security. They also discussed organizational matters and the preparation of key documents, including final and other essential materials.

The talks highlighted Turkmenistan’s longstanding strategic cooperation with the UN and its specialized agencies across various sectors. Special attention was given to events planned for this year, which the UN General Assembly declared the International Year of Peace and Trust at Turkmenistan’s initiative.

It is worth noting that 32 landlocked developing countries, with a combined population of over 500 million, face common challenges due to their geographic position, which affects their economic ties with the rest of the world.