Esteemed President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, in his speeches, emphasizes the significant role and immense contribution of Turkmen youth to the historical achievements and the prosperity of our Homeland.

In Turkmenistan, comprehensive support for youth, the creation of conditions to unlock their vast potential, and the enhancement of social and political activity have been elevated to priority state tasks.

Thus, in the present era, the achievements and successes of Turkmen youth, as well as their contribution to the development of the national economy and society, can be observed in all areas of the country’s life. These successes have been made possible due to state programs that expand social benefits for young families, implement measures to assist them in securing housing, and much more.

As a result of the parliamentary elections, around 37 percent of young people under the age of 35 were elected to the national parliament. Moreover, in order to enhance the role of youth in public administration and the development of youth parliamentarism, a group of young parliamentarians has been established in the Mejlis of Turkmenistan.

The focus of our state is constantly on issues related to improving national legislation in the field of protecting the rights and freedoms of youth, creating conditions for acquiring modern education, and developing the abilities of the younger generation, both Turkmen boys and girls.

It is fair to note that the upbringing of a physically strong and spiritually refined youth, instilled with patriotism, diligence, high honor, respect for others, and, importantly, a deep reverence for nature, is fundamentally rooted in the culture of the Turkmen people.
 

Esteemed President Serdar Berdymuhamedov, at the Summit of Heads of State of “Central Asia–China” held in the Chinese city of Xi’an in May 2023, proposed the initiative to hold a youth forum for the Central Asian states and the People’s Republic of China, titled “New Era of the Great Silk Road.”

This forum was held in November of the same year in Turkmenistan, becoming a notable example of extensive, multifaceted efforts to strengthen friendly relations between Turkmen youth and their peers from various countries around the world. It also played a key role in nurturing an educated, erudite generation of young people with a broad worldview, who highly value the traditions and customs of their people and their invaluable national heritage.

During the same period, the International Youth Forum “Dialogue – Guarantee of Peace,” dedicated to the role of youth in promoting sustainable peace, was held at a high level in the Turkmen city Arkadag.

The multilateral forum was attended by responsible officials in the field of youth policy from Central Asian states, representatives from ministries, agencies, public organizations, and youth from the People’s Republic of China, the United Arab Emirates, Libya, Azerbaijan, and other countries.

The conference also saw the participation of the head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, staff from various UN structural divisions and agencies, including UNDP, UNEP, UNICEF, UNESCO, and others.

The productive exchange of views at the forum on ways to expand cooperation in this crucial area confirmed the mutual interest and the desire of the Central Asian countries to further strengthen cooperation, based on the traditions of long-standing friendship and good neighbourliness.

The holding of this event was a clear testimony to the relevance of the philosophy “Dialogue – Guarantee of Peace,” introduced by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov, which is aimed at uniting the efforts of the international community to reinforce the traditions of peaceful and trusting coexistence among the peoples of the world, as well as restoring value-based principles and worldviews.

The concept of declaring 2025 as the “Year of Peace and Trust,” approved by the UN General Assembly on the initiative of the esteemed President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdymuhamedov, has provided a significant impetus for the more active involvement of youth in the implementation of national programs and foreign policy initiatives.

As is well known, on April 4-5, the historic “Central Asia–European Union” summit took place in Samarkand, during which the heads of states from the region discussed prospects for strengthening multilateral cooperation in a number of areas of strategic development.

On the sidelines of the summit, the Climate Forum was initiated, bringing together delegates from all corners of the globe. As part of this forum, a high-level Dialogue took place between youth representatives from Central Asian countries, including Turkmenistan, as well as Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Hungary, with the ministers of ecology, environmental protection, and climate change from their respective countries.

The meeting was attended by members of the International Youth Advisory Committee, which was established during the COP29 climate conference held in Azerbaijan in 2024.

The next steps in this direction will be the second meeting of the Dialogue of Youth from Central Asian countries, which will take place on April 16 at the United Nations headquarters in New York, within the framework of the UN General Assembly’s declared International Year of Peace and Trust – 2025.

The event is dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution on Youth, Peace, and Security, and will be held under the slogan “Voices of Youth for Peace and Trust” during the next session of the UN Economic and Social Council.

The meeting is expected to involve leaders of relevant government agencies from Central Asian countries, representatives of youth organizations, experts from corresponding UN agencies, and international partners supporting youth initiatives.

As mentioned earlier, this initiative, launched in the city of Arkadag, is becoming an important regional platform for exchanging views and developing collective solutions on issues of security and the integration of youth into peacebuilding processes.

Key objectives of the event include: evaluating the first decade of the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution on Youth, Peace, and Security, strengthening youth cooperation in Central Asia, discussing the Dialogue mechanism, and developing joint projects for the sustainable development of the region.

The agenda for the meeting includes discussions on the role of education in fostering a culture of peace, strengthening trust among the youth of the region, and social innovations in the context of sustainable development.

The event is expected to result in the expansion of the youth cooperation network, the launch of new joint initiatives, and the preparation of proposals for the institutionalization of the Dialogue, including a mechanism for rotating meetings among the countries of the region.

In May of this year, a regional seminar for young diplomats and civil servants from Central Asia is planned to take place in Ashgabat, in collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Turkmenistan. This event will focus on strengthening cooperation among young professionals from the region and enhancing their professional qualifications.

Additionally, in the near future, there are plans to jointly develop with UN agencies a project for the “Youth, Peace and Security” Program for the years 2025–2027, aimed at supporting the youth and adolescents of the country, expanding their representation at regional and international events.

Currently, Turkmenistan is implementing a regional project under the UN Development Programme, focused on youth. As part of this initiative, it is proposed to establish Training and Information Centers in the provincial offices of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population in collaboration with UNDP, to conduct specialized seminars incorporating digital technologies.