An agitation train left the Ashgabat railway station for a four-day journey along the Ashgabat-Turkmenabat-Kerki route. The representatives of the creative and scientific intelligentsia take part in the publicity event held in the framework of the programme of cultural events dedicated to the motto of the year of 2018 ""Turkmenistan is the heart of the Great Silk Road"". The route will cover the cities and historical sites of our country, located at the intersection of the caravan trade routes in ancient times. The event was organized jointly by the Ministry of Railway Transport, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education, the Turkmen State Publishing Service, the Academy of Sciences, the State Committee for Television, Broadcasting and Cinematography, and the Khyakimliks of Ashgabat and the Lebap Velayat. The workers of culture and arts, including writers, photojournalists, artists, as well as scientists and teachers of higher educational institutions, will make an exciting journey with an important educational mission - to convey the significance of such a unique phenomenon as the Great Silk Road to the present generation. Through the example of our independent neutral state that carefully preserves and respects the richest heritage of the centuries, the book by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov ""Turkmenistan is the heart of the Great Silk Road"" tells about the deep trace left by this phenomenon of the ancient world. According to the author, the Turkmen people played one of the fundamental roles in the origin and active operation of this caravan route. ""The most important international trade routes run through the territory of Turkmenistan in the ancient times and in the Middle Ages - from China to the Middle East passed through the Amul, Merv, Sarakhs, Abiverd, Nisa, from the Middle East to Russia through Dehistan and Kunyaurgench, to India through Zemm. There are dozens of large and small historical cities on the territory of our country that can prove the greatness of the Silk Road there are dozens "", the Turkmen leader emphasizes on the pages of his book. Reviving this ancient route in new formats, Turkmenistan actively develops the transport and logistics system as the foundation for building up the international political, economic and humanitarian dialogue on the principles of good-neighborliness, mutual understanding and equal partnership. Travelling along the caravan route, the participants of the agitation event will be able not only to join the heritage of the nation, but also to see with their own eyes the new life that runs to these legendary places together with the implementation of the social and economic programmes, scientific and technological progress. In the framework of the educational programme, the participants of the event will hold the scientific conference ""Historical and Cultural Monuments of Southern Turkmenistan – the Wonderful Samples of the World Art of Architecture"" in the Lebap Velayat Historical and Local History Museum. A roundtable meeting to be held in the Lebap Velayat Library will be dedicated to one of the six chapters of Turkmenistan’s President book – “Along Jeyhun” that tells about the historical and natural sites along the Amu Darya River. Among them are the city-fortress of Amul, the fortress of Khojaidat gala, the mausoleum of Astanababa, a canyon in the Koytendag Mountains - Kyrk giz, etc. The train will also stop in the city of Garabekevyul, where the creative meetings with the representatives of local scientific and literary circles will take place at the walls of the Khojaidat gala fortress. Then, the train will proceed to the city of Kerki, famous for the architectural monument of Astanababa, which is connected with the legend, presented in the book by the President of Turkmenistan ""Turkmenistan is the heart of the Great Silk Road"". Upon conclusion of the events, the train will return back to the capital.