Qatar’s top diplomat met with Turkmenistan’s foreign affairs minister to discuss enhancing relations.

A delegation from Turkmenistan, led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov, met with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss strengthening ties between the two countries, with a focus on the energy, investment, and transport sectors.

The two foreign ministers also addressed the situation in Afghanistan, underlining the importance of high-level meetings between the leaders of Qatar and Turkmenistan to enhance bilateral relations.

During the meeting in Doha, Sheikh Mohammed and Meredov also discussed updates on the construction of the Serhetabat-Herat section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline.

Turkmenistan extended an invitation to Qatar to participate in a high-level forum in December, marking the International Year of Peace and Trust.

Qatar-Turkmenistan relations

In March 2023, Doha and Ashgabat signed a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoU) during a meeting between Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedow.

On the same day,  Turkmenistan’s embassy in Qatar was inaugurated.

The agreements included a cooperation deal on disaster management, as well as a youth programme between the two countries, focusing on collaboration between their respective sports ministries for 2023-2024.

The Gulf state and Central Asian republic also signed bilateral investment agreements, along with an MoU between their ministries of labour.

Additionally, a visa exemption was introduced for holders of diplomatic and special passports from both Qatar and Turkmenistan.