On February 26, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a telephone conversation with President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, the presidential press service reported.
 
The heads of state noted the dynamic development and consistent strengthening of strategic partnerships and mutually beneficial cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

An exchange of views also took place on the schedule of upcoming events, including the preparation for the second consultative meeting of the heads of state of Central Asia, which will be held in April in Tashkent.

During the conversation, particular attention was paid to practical measures taken to improve the socio-economic situation and to overcome the negative consequences of the environmental disaster in the Aral Sea region.

It was noted that the successful holding of the meeting of International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea in the city of Avaza and the productive chairmanship of Turkmenistan in the Fund gave new impetus to the joint efforts of the CA countries and the international community to address the Aral issue.

The commencement of the activities of Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Human Security for the Aral Sea region under the auspices of the UN and the ongoing large-scale planting of trees on the dried seabed are highly appreciated.

The first consultative meeting of the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan was held on March 15, 2018 in Astana. 

Then, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, initiator of the summit, proposed holding such meetings each year on the eve of Navruz, and suggested Tashkent as the next gathering place.