National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, has been awarded the “Order of Friendship of the Highest Degree” (Oliy Darajali Do‘stlik) — the highest state honor of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Turkmen state media reported on Thursday.

The official ceremony took place following bilateral talks in Tashkent, where Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev presented the award, praising Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s remarkable contributions to the enhancement of Turkmen-Uzbek relations and his pivotal role in fostering friendship, good neighborliness, and strategic partnership between the two countries.

The award symbolizes the deep respect of Uzbekistan’s multinational people for Berdimuhamedov as a distinguished statesman and a key architect of Turkmenistan’s modern domestic and foreign policy.

Established in 2020, the Order of Friendship of the Highest Degree is awarded to foreign nationals, stateless persons, and distinguished individuals — including heads of state, parliamentarians, international figures, and prominent public contributors — for their exceptional achievements in strengthening cooperation and mutual understanding with Uzbekistan.