00:00We're celebrating 35 years,
00:02but Turkmenistan is very exciting
00:04for the next 35 years.
00:15Turkmenistan is marking 35 years
00:17of independence, with parades and celebrations
00:20across Ashgabat, and international
00:21partners have joined in, among them
00:23the United Nations. Of course
00:25Independence Day today
00:27in the world that is interconnected
00:29is not contradictory
00:31to interdependence.
00:33So I also commend Turkmenistan's
00:36international cooperation
00:37approach, based on trust,
00:40dialogue, and permanent
00:41neutrality. The anniversary was
00:43marked with a vast parade through the capital,
00:46a display of national pride
00:47on a grand scale. The size and scale
00:50of the festivities is impressive,
00:51and it's matched by the country's ambitions.
00:54At the heart of Turkmenistan's
00:55identity is permanent neutrality,
00:57recognized by the United Nations General
01:00Assembly in 1995.
01:02It remains the cornerstone of the country's
01:04foreign policy. Turkmenistan's foreign policy is
01:07based on the principles of peace, mutual respect, and equal
01:11international cooperation. The permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan embodies our firm commitment to maintaining peace and providing a platform for a
01:21trustful dialogue, where international issues are resolved exclusively through political,
01:27and diplomatic means. The systematic activity of the institute is aimed at the scientific and theoretical interpretation of the Turkmen
01:37neutrality model and fostering a new generation of diplomats capable of effectively representing the state's interests on the international stage.
01:47Neutrality has shaped the economy too. The government is modernizing the banking sector and courting foreign investment, while keeping public
01:54borrowing low.
01:55Today, our GDP every year is growing more than 6%. So it has a stable dynamic of growth. So our
02:06public debt is less than 2%, which is the lowest in the world, maybe.
02:11A new 30-year national program aims to diversify the economy, grow the private sector, and turn more of the
02:17country's energy into higher-value products.
02:20Another top priority is to develop the deprocessing of hydrocarbons into the high-value added products, which gives additional value
02:29to our economy.
02:30Energy remains the backbone of that economy, and gas has been central to the country's story since independence.
02:36We are developing the galvanish field, one of the largest in the world, and opening new export routes, including pipeline
02:43to China.
02:44Gas is only part of the picture. Turkmenistan also sees itself as a crossroads on the old Silk Road.
02:50In parallel, international transport corridors are being developed. Motorways are being constructed. New vessels of the national merchant fleet are
03:00being commissioned.
03:01And the capacity of the Turkmenbashi international seaport is expanding.
03:07All these initiatives serve as a reliable bridge for constructive dialogue and the creation of a sustainable supply chain between
03:15Asia and Europe.
03:17Much of the country's future rests on its young people, and education is being reshaped to match international standards.
03:23Since independence, the number of universities in Turkmenistan has increased threefold. Every year, every child starting school receives a computer.
03:35Turkmenistan has a young population, which gives us a demographic window of opportunity.
03:41Our goal is to prepare young people both to meet current economic needs and to create new industrial technologies and
03:50services with high added value.
03:53That is how we intend to turn demographic window for opportunity into lasting prosperity.
03:59These celebrations are not only about economics or the future. They are also about history and identity.
04:05Few things capture that better than the Al-Hal-Take, one of the oldest horse breeds in the world.
04:10It appears on the national emblem, and here it remains a powerful symbol of pride, heritage and continuity.
04:15It has a very strong connection with the history and culture of Turkmenistan.
04:21The Al-Hal-Take is famous for its beauty, strength, speed and loyalty.
04:27It has a light body, long legs and a beautiful shine on its coat.
04:32It can travel long distance and can live well in hot and dry climate.
04:38This horse is very smart and sensitive. It can have a very strong connection with its owner.
04:45Three and a half decades on, Turkmenistan is celebrating with pride, holding fast to its heritage while looking to the
04:51future with confidence.
04:52For this nation, the next chapter is only just beginning.
