On February 5, 2026, a briefing on cooperation between Turkmenistan and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. 

The event was attended by heads and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions and offices of international organizations accredited in the country, as well as media representatives. 

Presentations were delivered by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Mahri Bashimova and, via videoconference, Deputy Director-General of FAO and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia Viorel Gutu. 

Briefing participants learned about the current state and prospects of cooperation between Turkmenistan and FAO, key results and priority areas for further interaction. 

Special attention was paid to the official visit of FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu to Ashgabat in January 2026, and the significance of signing the Host Country Agreement. This document created the legal basis for opening the FAO Representation in Turkmenistan and brought the interaction to a qualitatively new level.