New educational foundations in Turkmen-Indian diplomatic relations
Relations with the countries of the Asia-Pacific region is among the priority areas of the peace-loving foreign policy and diplomacy pursued by the National Leader. The Republic of India is one of the friendly partners of Turkmenistan. At present the legal status of Turkmenistan’s Neutrality is highly respected worldwide. Our esteemed President stresses, “The legal status of permanent Neutrality, a basis of the foreign policy of our independent state, is prerequisite for the economic development and welfare of the country, a reliable foundation for the happy life of our dear people.” Cooperation between Turkmenistan and India in the spheres of science and education plays an important role. This is vividly evidenced by the meeting between Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Turkmenistan Widhu Peethambaran Nairi and Rector of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Jumamyrat Gurbangeldiyev. The respected guest visited the Museum of Turkmen Diplomacy located at the main building of the Institute, where he explored the exhibits showing the centuries-old historical, spiritual and cultural relations between Turkmenistan and India.
During the meeting the Rector of the Institute told Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Turkmenistan about the Journal “Business Central Asia” issued in India, which regularly publishes articles on the achievements of the Turkmen state, and noted that at present mutual relations between the two countries acquire new areas of partnership and friendship, broadening the scope of cooperation, which testifies to the successful foreign policy strategy of esteemed President.
The activities of our Institute also indicate about the development of relations between Turkmenistan and India in the spheres of science and education. In order to raise the qualifications of the teaching staff of the Institute, for several times the members of faculty were on business trips to have trainings within the framework of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Program (ITEC).
On 19 March 2015, the year declared in the country as “Turkmenistan is the Homeland of Neutrality and Peace”, under the Program for the Study of the Great Silk Road at the Jawaharlal Neru University the Embassy of Turkmenistan in New Deli, India organized the international seminar under the title of “2015 - the Year of Neutrality and Peace: Turkmenistan and India for the sake of peace and development in the Great Silk Road region”. It was attended by Professor Amangeldi Rahmanov, Head of the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy of the Institute. During the seminar a video on the foreign policy and diplomacy of Turkmenistan, history and culture, related books and the achievements of the country was shown. Within the framework of the seminar a game of wisdom devoted to the glories anniversary of Neutral Turkmenistan was held with the active participation of students from India.
In order to exchange expertise in the sphere of education, the lectures and professors of the Institute took part in the “5th India-Central Asia Dialogue”, the international conference on the issues of India and Central Asia, the presentation ceremony of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Peace and Sustainable Development located in New Deli.
The signing of the Memorandum of Mutual Understanding between the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Diplomatic Service of India and the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan on 11 July 2015 testifies to the development of the Indian and Turkmen relations in the sphere of science.
The cooperation established between the two higher educational institutions is of great importance for training specialists in international relations and mutual exchange of experience. The Parties, being committed to the principles of cooperation, are carrying out productive activities to further broaden the possibilities of cooperation. This is exemplified by the “round table” held on 5 October 2020 between the Institute of International Relations of the MFA of Turkmenistan and the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Diplomatic Service of India. The round table was devoted to the 25th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s Neutrality and attended by the teaching staff of the higher educational institutions.
During the meeting, there was a productive discussion on the prospects and objectives of cooperation, and mutually beneficial proposals were put forward to raise the qualification of the specialists of the diplomatic service of the two countries.
IIRMFA NEWS