From June 1 to 2, 2025, the international political arena witnessed a high-profile diplomatic event: President Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan paid his first state visit to Mongolia. This historic visit, like a stone cast into a tranquil lake, rippled through long-standing bilateral relations, opening a new chapter of cooperation and leaving an indelible mark on the international diplomatic landscape.

As President Berdimuhamedov set foot in Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar was imbued with a warm diplomatic atmosphere. In talks with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, the two sides engaged in in-depth exchanges across multiple key domains, each topic embodying high hopes for future collaboration. In an environment of amity and trust, the leaders not only reviewed past cooperative milestones but also adopted a long-term strategic vision. They discussed expanding diplomatic ties, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, and enhancing international engagement—issues intricately aligned with the developmental imperatives of both nations.

The talks yielded tangible results, with 14 bilateral documents signed to solidify the legal framework of relations. Spanning trade, economy, investment, and culture, these agreements constructed multi-dimensional cooperation bridges. In trade, they clarified future priorities, laying groundwork for expanded commerce and optimized trade structures; in investment, they established a more stable and transparent environment to encourage bilateral investment and resource optimization.

Beyond the signed accords, a joint statement underscored the resolve to deepen cooperation in trade, economy, transport, and logistics. This statement not only constituted a public commitment to bilateral collaboration but also signaled to the international community that Turkmenistan and Mongolia would join hands to seize opportunities in economic globalization. During the visit, President Berdimuhamedov met with the Chairman of the Mongolian State Great Khural, enhancing legislative-level political consensus. Additionally, a business forum provided a direct platform for enterprises, where representatives forged forward-looking cooperation agreements.

This visit not only laid a solid foundation for long-term bilateral cooperation but also outlined a clear roadmap for future engagement. Historically, while bilateral ties existed, this high-level visit elevated relations to new heights, inaugurating an era of closer collaboration in political, economic, and cultural spheres. In terms of international influence, strengthened Turkmen-Mongolian cooperation injects new vitality into regional stability, setting a paradigm for friendly state-to-state collaboration and demonstrating the potential for common development through equal dialogue.

LLDC3 Conference: A Pivotal Platform for Landlocked Nations

Scheduled for August 5–8, 2025, in Avaza, Turkmenistan, the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) arrives as a critical forum for the 32 landlocked nations. Historically, such conferences—previous editions held in Almaty (2003) and Vienna (2014)—have addressed unique developmental challenges.

Landlocked states face inherent disadvantages: World Bank data shows their trade costs exceed those of coastal nations by 40% due to lengthy transit routes, high cross-border fees, and complex customs procedures. Prolonged delivery times hinder perishable goods trade, while bureaucratic hurdles deter international commerce.

LLDC3 aims to tackle these issues through focused discussions on infrastructure, transit policies, and trade facilitation. Key objectives include advocating for increased investment in cross-border transport networks, harmonizing customs procedures, and promoting trade liberalization to create a more equitable global trading environment for landlocked economies.

Ashgabat’s Strategic Imperatives in Hosting LLDC3

Hosting LLDC3 provides Turkmenistan with a platform to showcase its diplomatic acumen and organizational capacity. As the conference hub, Turkmenistan will shape agendas, convene global stakeholders, and amplify its voice on international issues, reinforcing its image as a proactive participant in global governance.

The conference offers Turkmenistan an opportunity to diversify energy partnerships, attracting investment in new export corridors like cross-border pipelines. Showcasing technological innovations in natural gas extraction and processing, Turkmenistan aims to solidify its position as a reliable global energy supplier while addressing landlocked nations’ energy security concerns.

As a UN-recognized permanent neutral state since 1995, Turkmenistan will leverage its status to mediate between nations at LLDC3. By fostering consensus on trade policies and resource allocation, Turkmenistan aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of neutral diplomacy in promoting international cooperation, while reinforcing its role as a stabilizing force in Central Asia.

Conference Preparations: Venue Shifts and Strategic Choices

Initially slated for Rwanda—chosen for its regional economic momentum and infrastructure progress—LLDC3 faced scheduling conflicts with other major international events and domestic political priorities in 2024. Botswana later proposed to host but encountered obstacles: post-2024 election political transitions, economic vulnerabilities from diamond market fluctuations, and inadequate conference infrastructure, including limited transportation hubs and venue capacities.

Turkmenistan emerged as the host due to its modern facilities, including Ashgabat’s international airport and the Avaza National Tourist Zone’s state-of-the-art convention center. Its diplomatic credibility as a neutral state and extensive multilateral engagement history also bolstered its bid, providing a stable foundation for the conference’s success.

Mongolia’s Role: Active Participation, Strategic Non-Hosting

Mongolia with Austria played an active role in LLDC3’s preparatory phase, advocating for cross-border railway standardization to address gauge inconsistencies and sharing best practices in electronic customs clearance to improve trade efficiency. These contributions helped shape the conference’s agenda on infrastructure and trade facilitation.

Mongolia’s decision not to bid reflected economic realities—reliance on mineral exports made fiscal resources tight amid global commodity price volatility—and infrastructure limitations, including insufficient high-quality accommodation and congested urban transport in Ulaanbaatar. Diplomatically, Mongolia prioritized its “Third Neighbor” policy, focusing on bilateral ties with major powers rather than assuming hosting responsibilities.

Turkmenistan’s Diplomatic Doctrine: Neutrality in Practice

Turkmenistan’s neutrality policy, enshrined in its 1995 UN recognition, emphasizes non-alignment and conflict mediation. This approach has enabled it to pursue pragmatic partnerships in:

Water Diplomacy: Coordinating with Afghanistan and Uzbekistan on transboundary water management, supporting the UN’s Aral Sea restoration initiative, and establishing regional water resource centers.

Transport Diplomacy: Hosting railway cooperation summits, joining international transport conventions, and promoting the Global Sustainable Transport Conference to position itself as an Eurasian transit hub.

Ecological Diplomacy: Advancing the China–Central Asia Gas Pipeline and diversifying export routes to ensure energy security while adopting green extraction technologies.

Future Prospects: A Collaborative Path Forward

Turkmen-Mongolian ties are set to deepen in energy, with Turkmen gas supplies supporting Mongolia’s industrial growth, and joint transport projects like the cross-border logistics boosting trade volumes. Agricultural collaboration will focus on technology sharing and value-added processing to enhance export competitiveness.

The conference is expected to catalyze investments in regional infrastructure, such as upgraded cross-border highways and digital customs systems, while promoting policy harmonization to reduce trade barriers. Turkmenistan’s neutral role will be critical in mediating disputes and fostering consensus on shared development agendas.

Mongolia stands to benefit from LLDC3 by adopting best practices in economic diversification from peer nations and accessing international support for infrastructure upgrades. Enhanced connectivity through regional projects will facilitate its integration into global supply chains, reducing dependency on mineral exports.

As these initiatives unfold, landlocked nations are poised to overcome geographical constraints, fostering shared prosperity and contributing to a more inclusive global order. The synergies between bilateral partnerships and multilateral frameworks like LLDC3 offer a blueprint for sustainable development in the 21st century.

Chuluunbaatar Sumiya