00:00We are celebrating 35 years, but Turkmenistan is very exciting for the next 35 years.
00:15Turkmenistan is marking 35 years of independence with parades and celebrations across Ashgabat,
00:21and international partners have joined in, among them the United Nations.
00:24Of course, Independence Day today, in the world that is interconnected, is not contradictory to interdependence.
00:33So I also commend Turkmenistan's international cooperation approach, based on trust, dialogue and permanent neutrality.
00:42The anniversary was marked with a vast parade through the capital, a display of national pride on a grand scale.
00:49The size and scale of the festivities is impressive, and it's matched by the country's ambitions.
00:53At the heart of Turkmenistan's identity is permanent neutrality.
00:58Recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in 1995, it remains the cornerstone of the country's foreign policy.
01:05Turkmenistan's foreign policy is based on the principles of peace, mutual respect and equal international cooperation.
01:12The permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan embodies our firm commitment to maintaining peace and providing a platform for a trustful dialogue,
01:22where international issues are resolved exclusively through political and diplomatic means.
01:29The systematic activity of the institute is aimed at the scientific and theoretical interpretation of the Turkmen neutrality model
01:38and 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.
01:49The government is modernizing the banking sector and courting foreign investment, while keeping public borrowing low.
01:55Today, our GDP every year is growing more than 6%, so it has a stable dynamic of growth.
02:05So our public 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,
02:16and turn more of the country's energy into higher-value products.
02:19Another top priority is to develop the deprocessing of hydrocarbons into the high-value-added products,
02:28which gives additional value to 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,
02:40and opening new export routes, including pipeline to China.
02:43Gas 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.
02:54Motorways are being constructed.
02:57New vessels of the national merchant fleet are being commissioned.
03:02And the capacity of the Turkmenbashi international seaport is expanding.
03:06All these initiatives serve as a reliable bridge for constructive dialogue
03:11and the creation of a sustainable supply chain between Asia and Europe.
03:17Much of the country's future rests on its young people,
03:20and education is being reshaped to match international standards.
03:24Since independence, the number of universities in Turkmenistan has increased threefold.
03:30Every year, every child starting school receives a computer.
03:34Turkmenistan 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
03:46and to create new industrial technologies and services with high added value.
03:53That is how we intend to turn demographic window of opportunity into lasting prosperity.
03:59These celebrations are not only about economics or the future.
04:03They're also about history and identity.
04:05Few things capture that better than the Al-Hal-Takeh, 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-Takeh is famous for its beauty, strength, speed and loyalty.
04:26It has a light body, long legs and a beautiful shine on its coat.
04:32It can travel long distance and can live well in a hot and dry climate.
04:38This horse is very smart and sensitive.
04:41It can have a very strong connection with its owner.
04:45Three and a half decades on, Turkmenistan is celebrating with pride,
04:49holding fast to its heritage while looking to the future with confidence.
04:52For this nation, the next chapter is only just beginning.
