President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov has extended his congratulations to the participants of the scientific and practical conference “The Caspian Sea – Sea of Friendship and Peace,” held in Avaza, as well as on the occasion of Caspian Sea Day, as reported on Tuesday by Turkmenistan’s official media.

In his congratulatory message, the head of state emphasized that Turkmenistan consistently puts forward initiatives aimed at strengthening trade and economic, cultural, and humanitarian ties among the Caspian littoral states, highlighting the significance of the first Caspian Summit held in Ashgabat.

Among the key milestones, the President highlighted the Caspian Environmental Forum held in 2012, the first Caspian Economic Forum in 2019, and proposals put forward during the sixth Caspian Summit in 2022. Special attention was given to the initiative introduced at the UN General Assembly session in 2023 to establish the “Caspian Environmental Initiative,” aimed at fostering joint efforts to protect the environment.

Berdimuhamedov noted that Avaza has become a model of environmentally sustainable development and a venue for major international events, including the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries.

The head of state expressed confidence that the current forum and its accompanying events would further strengthen cooperation among the Caspian littoral states, contribute to the preservation of the region’s ecosystem and biodiversity, and contribute to peace and trust in the region.

Caspian Sea Day was established in 2006 to commemorate the adoption of the Tehran Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea.