Landlocked Nations Summit: Turkmenistan Opens UN Meeting
Central Asia Hosts Landmark UN Conference for Landlocked Developing Countries
Awaza, turkmenistan - A new era of cooperation is unfolding in Central Asia, as evidenced by teh opening of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) in Awaza, Turkmenistan. The conference, which began Tuesday, brings together leaders and representatives from the 32 landlocked nations worldwide, alongside UN officials and international partners, to address the unique challenges these countries face and forge pathways to sustainable development.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that the conference reflects a new era of cooperation taking shape across Central Asia – one grounded in mutual trust, shared priorities, and growing regional solidarity. “At a time when multilateral cooperation is being tested, this spirit of partnership is more essential than ever,” he said.
The session opened with a welcome from Turkmenistan’s President, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, who highlighted national initiatives to strengthen international cooperation in healthcare, climate action, and environmental protection.He also drew attention to pressing regional challenges, including the drying of the Aral Sea and declining water levels in the Caspian Sea – the world’s largest enclosed body of water and the conference’s setting.
UN General Assembly President Philemon Yang underscored the urgency of the 2030 Agenda, calling for decisive action and a renewed commitment to multilateralism. He stressed that the UN Charter’s three pillars - peace, development, and human dignity – must remain central to all efforts, ensuring no one is left behind. Yang highlighted the vulnerability of LLDCs to climate change and structural challenges, asserting that these countries “must never lack access to possibility, prosperity, or hope,” and advocating for international solidarity, infrastructure investment, and freedom of transit. He also announced the General Assembly’s proclamation of 6 August as the international Day of Awareness on Landlocked Developing Countries, to be observed annually, and pledged continued support through monitoring the Awaza Program of Action and preparing for its high-level review in 2029.
Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), described LLDC3 as “a pivotal moment” for the 32 landlocked nations striving to overcome development barriers. Speaking from the outlook of Nepal, a landlocked and least developed country, he emphasized the need for the Awaza Programme of Action to be a “bold, enterprising, actionable, and future-oriented blueprint” to transform vulnerability into opportunity for the over 570 million people residing in these nations.
Mr. Thapa underscored the growing complexity and urgency of challenges facing LLDCs, including debt distress, climate impacts, and infrastructure gaps. He urged the creation of an infrastructure investment facility specifically for lldcs, alongside scaled-up climate finance, increased concessional resources, and accelerated technology transfer. Regional cooperation and sustainable transport were also highlighted, as was Turkmenistan’s leadership in hosting the conference. ECOSOC reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the Awaza Programme of Action, integrating LLDC priorities such as food security, youth empowerment, and climate resilience into all its discussions and processes.
LLDC3 continues on Wednesday, 6 August, with roundtables and events focusing on connectivity and transport, South-South cooperation, youth engagement, and other critical topics. Full coverage of the conference can be found here.