On April 12, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov, who was on a visit to the Republic of Korea, opening the program of his state visit to the country, participated in the ceremony of opening the VII World Water Forum in the city of Daegu. The forum agenda was focused on the issues of rational use of water resources, which are of paramount importance in the context of sustainable development on a global basis. The forum, held every three years, was organized by the World Water Council (WWC). Founded in 1996, it includes over 300 organizations from more than 50 countries of the world. The headquarters of the WWC are in Marseille, France. The World Water Forum is a unique platform for a multilateral exchange of opinions, discussion and cooperation on water challenges, which generates innovative ideas and know-how in this important sphere. The global meeting in the city of Daegu, held under the slogan of “Water for Our Future”, brought together heads of states and governments, high-ranking representatives of many countries, heads of large international organizations, as well as scientists and specialists. Notably, representatives of non-governmental organizations, civil society and youth traditionally participate in World Water Forums. The agenda of the Forum touched upon four key directions (main issues, political measures, regional aspect, science and technologies). Its program also included a civil forum, an exhibition and other events. The fact that the Turkmen leader has been invited to participate in this global event is an eloquent example of immense prestige of Turkmenistan, which is making a considerable contribution to combined efforts for establishing interest-based partnership in tackling the issues of conservation and sustainable use of water resources, and the ones directly related to them, such as ensuring of ecological safety and climatic changes. Over the past few years, our country has put forward a number of concrete initiatives in this field, which were voiced by the Turkmen leader from the rostrum of the UN General Assembly, the Rio+20 World Summit, other important forums, including the III United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, held last month in the city of Sendai (Japan). Much consideration is given in the Republic of Korea to the visit by the Turkmen leader and our country. The high Turkmen guest was warmly and cordially welcomed there; numerous welcome banners were clear evidence of it. In a foyer of the hotel, where a guest residence of President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov was, a film about independent neutral Turkmenistan, its modern achievements and progress was shown on a large monitor. The most recent issue of “Atawatan Turkmenistan” analytical magazine (which is popular among foreign readers, including in Korea) is devoted to the Turkmen-Korean relations. In accordance with the program of the visit, President of Turkmenistan arrived at the “Daegu EXCO” – Exhibition and Convention Center in the city of Daegu. Here, a solemn ceremony of opening the VII World Water Forum was held in the Big Conference Hall. At the beginning of the ceremony, the organizers of the Forum and representatives of the host country made addresses to the attendees. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov was the first among eminent guests to be given the floor. Speaking from the rostrum of the Forum, the leader of nation voiced concrete proposals of Turkmenistan, aimed at further combing efforts of the global community in the name of universal well-being and progress. Placing accent on special topically and a global character of the items on the agenda, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has stressed that today the water issue cannot be considered separately from the global long-term development plans, strategic goals of ensuring ecological and food security, establishment of a comprehensive system of sustainable energy. In this context, the nation’s leader confirmed Turkmenistan’s firm adherence to the implementation of agreements on sustainable development in the water-related segment, reached at the Rio+20 United Nations Conference, and other international forums. As the head of state highlighted, Turkmenistan also considers the High-level Interactive Dialogue (recently held at the UN headquarters) to be useful. Its outcomes can become a basis for drawing up a long-term UN Special Program for water issues. In this connection, the nation’s leader has expressed confidence that such joint activity of the world’s countries and international organizations can be a foundation for the work on preparing the UN water document. Having emphasized that the UN Water Strategy could be such a document, the head of Turkmen state proposed giving thorough consideration to the initiative of Turkmenistan. In continuation of his speech, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov focused attention on such an important issue as access to water. In this context, the Turkmen leader spoke in support of the UN initiative, which recognizes access to water as a fundamental human right, having emphasized that the basic right to water and responsibility for efficient water management are at the heart of the initiative. “As we understand it, ensuring of the right to water should be an obligation for all states of the world,” the head of Turkmenistan said. As the leader of nations noted, in Central Asia, for a number of reasons, the water issue is an important, and in some cases, a crucial factor in the regional development processes, that makes a considerable impact on the general situation, implementation of plans of socio-economic development, handling of serious ecological problems. Under such conditions, a regional consensus is the only acceptable platform for efficient interaction between states. Turkmenistan stands for this very approach, discussion and tackling of water and water-energy issues in Central Asia on the basis of generally adopted international rules, mutual respect and due regard to the interests of all states of the region, with participation of international organizations, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov stressed. Admitting that tackling of the water issues on a global basis is complicated by the climate change, our country has put forward an initiative to establish a specialized agency under the aegis of the United Nations – the Regional Center for technologies related to climate change. Having noted that the water issue could be a separate area of the Center’s activity, the head of Turkmen state has expressed confidence that its creation is dictated by objective needs of the situation in the Central Asian Region. This year, Turkmenistan will be handed over the chairmanship of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development of Central Asia, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov said, having confirmed the Turkmen side’s willingness to actively support the development of interstate cooperation in water management, regarding it as a priority of cooperation with international organizations. Concluding his speech, the nation’s leader has highlighted that Turkmenistan supports the goals and objectives placed on the agenda of the forum, and has spoken of our country’s readiness for close partnership and exchange of experience with all the parties concerned. Upon completion of the opening ceremony of the VII World Water Forum, all the high guests, participating in it, posed for photographs. As for the Forum (to be held until April 17), it should be noted that relying on the outcomes of the V and VI World Water Forums in Istanbul and Marseille, as well as other recognized international processes, members of its Organizing Committee aim to make it “The Forum of Decisions”. The water issues placed on the agenda are a matter of common concern for the world community. In the frames of the VII World Water Forum, members of Turkmenistan’s delegation would participate in a ministerial conference to be held on April 13. After the opening ceremony of the Forum, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov visited a water exhibition in the “Daegu EXCO” Center. Companies from different countries of the world, specializing in water-saving technologies and water management, special equipment and services, including for water supply systems, wastewater treatment, seawater desalination, presented their developments, know-how and products. Getting acquainted with the expositions of Korean companies, as well as the exhibition on the whole, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov evinced interest in advanced developments of foreign partners, technical characteristics and operational performance of the equipment, new scientific achievements in the field of sustainable use of water resources and water-efficient technologies, as well as advantages of their practical application. That same day, our country’s delegation visited the “Yangnyeongsi” Museum of Oriental Medicine in the city of Daegu. The city has been a center of Korean traditional medicine, including herbal medicine from the earliest times. As known, the Turkmen people also have age-old traditions in phytotherapy, which are described in the encyclopedic work – “Medicinal Plants of Turkmenistan” authored by President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov and published in different languages. Speaking of advocacy of the principles of healthy lifestyle by the nation’s leader, it is appropriate to mention that the President of Turkmenistan started the day with traditional morning exercises. Taking a walk early in the morning, the head of Turkmen state visited a sports complex located near the hotel, having viewed the landscape on his way. At the same time, Korean cyclists (“Daegu kwanyok” team) were practicing their cycling skills at the “Daegu Manchon” Cycle Track. The nation’s leader Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov had a conversation with a coach of the cyclists – Kim Hyun Il. As the coach noted, Korea had hosted the IV Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in 2013. She was delighted that Turkmenistan would host the upcoming Asian Games. In this connection, the coach informed that Korean sportsmen had already started to prepare for the Asian Games-2017 to be held in the Turkmen capital. Having highlighted that great importance is attached to the development of mass sport movement and sport of records in our country, President of Turkmenistan has stressed that the region’s largest Olympic Park – a multi-purpose sports complex is under construction in Ashgabat. A modern cycle track has been built in the complex. The head of state invited the Korean couch and her pupils to come to the Turkmen capital and practice in the complex. As the President of Turkmenistan said, all necessary conditions would be created for training sessions of Korean sportsmen in Ashgabat, and their stay in our country would contribute to mutually beneficial exchange of experience. Saying goodbye to the Korean cyclists, the head of state wished them great success and achievements. That same day, the head of Turkmen state flew from Daegu to the capital of the Republic of Korea – Seoul. From the airport, the head of Turkmenistan proceeded to his guest residence in the “Lotte” Hotel, located in the capital’s center. That same day, a conference devoted to the 20th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s neutrality was held at the “President” Hotel in Seoul. On April 13, in the frames of the state visit by the President of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Korea, the Turkmen-Korean summit talks will be held in Seoul. They are destined to lay the groundwork for further sustainable development of the bilateral relations, which have by now reached a qualitatively new level, taking the form of long-term strategic partnership.