On the sidelines of the International Forum on Peace and Trust, held in the city of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, in conjunction with the country’s celebrations marking thirty years of neutrality and on the occasion of the International Day of Neutrality, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with H.E. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, National Leader of Turkmenistan and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, on Friday, 12 December 2025, at the Presidential Palace.

His Excellency welcomed the ICESCO Director-General, expressing his appreciation for accepting the invitation, attending the International Forum, and participating in its proceedings. For his part, Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s programs, projects, and initiatives in education, science, and culture, underscoring the Organization’s mandate to serve its Member States and strengthen joint action across the Islamic world.

Moreover, Dr. AlMalik pointed out that, despite Turkmenistan’s membership in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), it is not yet a member of ICESCO. In this context, the National Leader affirmed his keenness for Turkmenistan to join ICESCO and, during the meeting, instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take all necessary measures, on an urgent basis, to complete Turkmenistan’s accession to the Organization.

Furthermore, the Director-General reaffirmed that the Organization would work to highlight Turkmenistan’s rich culture, heritage, and civilizational initiatives, in a manner that contributes to serving the Islamic world and humanity as a whole. He also proposed celebrating the city of Ashgabat as a Culture Capital in the Islamic World, as part of ICESCO’s Culture Capital in the Islamic World Program, in view of the civilizational legacy that the city, and the country as a whole, has contributed to the radiance of Islamic civilization across centuries.

At the close of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik expressed his profound gratitude and appreciation to H.E. National Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow for the warm reception and gracious hospitality.