As reported in previous articles of this series, within the framework of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, held under the auspices of the UN jointly with the Government of Turkmenistan in early August in the «Avaza» National Tourist Zone, a large number of diverse events of political, diplomatic, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian focus are planned.

As is known, our independent neutral Fatherland, which consistently follows its international obligations, acts as a strategic partner of the UN, consistently building constructive cooperation on the basic vectors of global development, taking into account national interests.

The next representative forum will discuss current issues of our time, ways to overcome existing problems and jointly achieve the adopted Sustainable Development Goals.

One of the determining factors for the successful interaction of the world community on the global agenda today is rightfully recognised as the international cooperation of young people, who take the most active part in building a bright future for the planet. It is no coincidence that the program of the upcoming Conference in «Avaza» includes a Youth Forum and a number of events that, to one degree or another, touch upon the topic of the need to intensify partnership in this area at the international level.

Fully meeting the goals and objectives of the United Nations Youth Strategy «Youth 2030», all planned meetings are aimed at establishing a trusting dialogue between young people representing different cultures, regions and views, to expand the opportunities for their participation in solving common problems of sustainable development.

As is known, the formation of an inspired, highly educated, intellectually and physically developed young generation, true patriots of the Fatherland, was initially and remains one of the strategic tasks of the political course in the era of the Revival of the new epoch of the powerful state. 

The National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who sees the great future of the Fatherland in the youth and initially designated youth policy as the most important priority, laid a solid foundation for creating favourable conditions for the harmonious spiritual, moral, cultural, intellectual and physical development of the current and future generations of Turkmen citizens as a powerful force and support of the state. 

Today, the bulk of the population of our country are young boys and girls - a generation formed over the years of sacred independence. Happy youth work hard in various sectors of the national economy, participate in the implementation of national and state programs, put forward important initiatives to improve socio-political life, are engaged in scientific, educational and public work.

Thanks to the carefully verified socially oriented policy of Hero Arkadag, worthily continued by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, all conditions have been created for young people to receive a modern education, realise their abilities and talents, intellectual potential, enrich and broaden their horizons.

Thus, the country has adopted and is successfully implementing the «Concept for the Development of the Digital Education System», «Concept for Improving the Teaching of Foreign Languages», «Concept for Improving the Teaching of Subjects Related to Natural and Exact Sciences in Turkmenistan», «Concept for Improving the Methodology of Teaching General Education Programs in Turkmenistan until 2028», etc., which directly contribute to improving the quality of education.

In all corners of our sovereign Motherland, kindergartens and comprehensive schools equipped in accordance with the requirements of the time have been opened and are being put into operation. 

Every year, thousands of graduates of Turkmen schools go to study at prestigious foreign universities, improve their qualifications in scientific and educational centres of the world, acquiring the knowledge and specialties necessary for our country. 

Joint educational projects with international organisations, in particular, specialised agencies of the UN, are actively implemented. Thus, UNESCO departments have been established at the Turkmen State University named after Magtymguly and the Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute named after Seyitnazar Seydi. UNESCO Clubs have been created at the Turkmen National Institute of World Languages named after Dovletmammet Azady, the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Turkmen Agricultural Institute. Six comprehensive schools of our country are included in the system of Associated Schools of the Organisation. 

In Turkmenistan, as in many countries, young people are increasingly taking the lead, making an invaluable contribution to achieving high goals and objectives in the name of the further prosperity of the Fatherland, increasing its authority on the world stage, and ensuring the well-being of their native people.

As is known, in order to strengthen the legal basis for the activities carried out, the Law of Turkmenistan «On State Youth Policy» was adopted in a new edition, and in order to successfully solve the tasks outlined in it, the State Program in the Field of State Youth Policy of Turkmenistan for 2021-2025 and the Action Plan for its implementation were approved.

All this opens up broad opportunities for ensuring the legal and social protection of happy youth, the formation of a generation striving to master the latest scientific achievements, and to ensure comfortable living conditions for young families.

An important aspect of the work carried out in this direction is increasing the social and business activity of young people, stimulating their entrepreneurial initiatives, and providing comprehensive support in the creation of modern innovative industries.

Large-scale work on educating young people in the spirit of high patriotism and humanism is carried out by the Youth Organisation of Turkmenistan named after Magtymguly - one of the largest public associations of our independent neutral state, fully defending the interests of young citizens, promoting the strengthening of unity and cohesion in society, the successful implementation of grandiose reforms and national programs.

The youth organisation actively cooperates with many countries in order to exchange experience, identify the abilities and talents of young Turkmen citizens, provide their social support, and stimulate entrepreneurial and creative activities.

Recognition of the merits of our country in strengthening international dialogue in this area was the acceptance of the Youth Organisation of Turkmenistan named after Magtymguly as an official member of the Global Youth Community of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). 

Multifaceted cooperation, designed to stimulate and ensure deep involvement of young people in interesting projects within the framework of this prestigious UN organisation, has opened up even greater prospects and opportunities for the Turkmen youth to realise their potential. After all, UNESCO's efforts to address pressing issues of the 21st century through cultural diplomacy are fully in line with the initiatives put forward by our country in the interests of peace, security and sustainable development at the global level. 

Another large-scale systemic measure was the adoption of the Strategy for International Cooperation of the Youth of Turkmenistan for 2023-2030, approved by the Resolution of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in order to develop international youth partnerships based on the country's legislation and international treaties, further strengthening ties with the youth of different countries in the name of building a better future. 

It is no coincidence that youth issues are constantly reflected in the priority positions of Turkmenistan, voiced at sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations in confirmation of the constant readiness to develop cooperation with its other member states, as well as UN bodies, institutions, agencies and institutes in this area.

In order to practically implement UN directive documents, consolidate young people from Central Asian countries for joint activities to implement the global agenda «Youth, Peace and Security», over the past few years, youth dialogue platforms have been actively developing in the region with the support of specialized UN structures, in particular, the Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia.

The UNRCCA is implementing the «Academy of Preventive Diplomacy» project, which provides young people with the opportunity to become familiar with effective preventive tools within the United Nations system. The practice of dialogues between young people and government officials of the countries of the region has also been established at the Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia and within the framework of annual meetings of deputy foreign ministers of the Central Asian countries.

As is known, during the fifth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia held in September 2023, an Agreement between the Central Asian countries on general directions of youth policy was signed, which demonstrates an understanding of the importance of supporting and stimulating youth initiatives.

In order to promote the development of multilateral communication between young people of the Central Asian states, further strengthening peaceful, friendly and good-neighbourly relations in the region, Turkmenistan took the initiative to hold the founding session of the Central Asian Youth Dialogue in our country, and in October 2023 organised the International Youth Forum «Dialogue - a guarantee of peace». 

The productivity of the meetings held at this open discussion platform became an important indicator of the correctness of the youth policy pursued by the states of the Central Asian region, according to which young people not only take a full part in the political, economic, social and cultural life of their countries, but also come up with fundamentally new approaches to solving pressing problems of our time and achieving common goals and objectives in the name of sustainable socio-economic development and for the joint implementation of the existing impressive potential. 

In November 2023, Turkmenistan hosted the Youth Forum of Central Asian Countries and China «New Epoch of the Great Silk Road», initiated by it, aimed at strengthening youth cooperation in such areas as climate change and environmental sustainability, education, science and innovation, culture and art. 

The discussions that took place demonstrated that the Turkmen people, like the peoples of Central Asia and China, have managed to form unique traditions and customs over the millennia of their history, ensuring an exemplary socio-cultural mentality, unity and cohesion of the nation in the new epoch. 

Harmoniously combined with a modern scientific and technical worldview, the implemented advanced technologies and generally recognised international initiatives, these eternal spiritual and moral postulates have become the foundation of the state policy currently being pursued, in order to increase the global authority of Turkmenistan. 

It is no coincidence that the verified domestic and foreign policy course implemented by the sovereign Fatherland is arousing increasing interest from the international community every year. Large-scale, strategic programs successfully implemented, promoting progress in all sectors of the economy on an innovative basis, a national model of comprehensive harmonious development, the most important initiatives of Turkmenistan put forward from the rostrums of major international organisations in the name of further peaceful and happy life of mankind - all this contributes to the establishment of friendly and fraternal relations with the countries and peoples of the world. 

Within the framework of this large-scale work, special attention is paid to strengthening fruitful ties between Turkmen youth and their peers from different countries, which serves to maintain trust and mutual understanding.

The events planned on the sidelines of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries will serve to further increase the social activity of the youth of our country, expand international contacts, and create a platform for uniting the efforts of young people in promoting common interests on the world stage. 

There is no doubt that the upcoming forum in «Avaza» will be one of the key events of this year, declared on the initiative of our country as the «International Year of Peace and Trust» and taking place under the sign of important anniversaries - the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's neutrality and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN, and will contribute to the further active involvement of young people, rightfully recognised as the driving force of society, in shaping a better future for our common home - planet Earth.