The inviolability and importance of this thesis have been repeatedly emphasized, both in private discussions and during deliberations on the common heritage of Central Asia by participants of the international congress “Spiritual Heritage and Enlightenment in Central Asia”, currently taking place in Tashkent.
The youth of Turkmenistan have always acted and continue to act as carriers of modern ideas while simultaneously maintaining respect for national traditions and historical values. It was precisely on the initiative of Turkmen youth that the Dialogue of the Youth of Central Asian Countries was established, which has already proven effective as a platform for exchanging experience on key issues of education, culture, ecology, and social development.
The first meeting of the Dialogue took place in Arkadag in October 2023, and in April 2025, this initiative was presented and further developed on the international stage, including during events in New York, where the appeals of young leaders from our region were brought to the attention of the global community. These steps convincingly demonstrate Turkmenistan’s commitment to bringing the regional youth dialogue to the level of the global agenda “Youth, Peace and Security.”
The experience of forums and meetings recently held in Turkmenistan shows that young people are capable of implementing projects that bring tangible benefits to society—in the fields of science and education, healthcare, environmental safety, culture, and intercultural exchange. These events provide an opportunity not only for open discussion but also yield concrete results.
The spiritual heritage of Central Asia is not limited to monuments and texts. As stated by Vepa Gutlyev, head of the Youth Policy Department of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan, “it is customs and mutual respect, a dialogue between traditions and innovations, the cultivation of moral values that make a sustainable society possible. Moreover, it is essential that today’s enlightenment combine respect for roots with openness to new forms of knowledge—digital education, interdisciplinary research, creative industries, and volunteer initiatives.”
According to the unanimous opinion of the congress participants, only through honest partnership, mutual respect, and continuous dialogue can the wealth of spiritual heritage be preserved while ensuring its living and relevant continuation in the modern world. Turkmenistan, for its part, is always ready for cooperation, exchange of experience, and joint work on initiatives aimed at strengthening peace, developing education, and enhancing cultural ties among the peoples of Central Asia.
