Ashgabat, December 12 | ORIENT. Ashgabat hosted the International Forum of Peace and Trust, timed to International Neutrality Day and the significant 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality. This prestigious event brought together heads of state, government, and heads of international organizations, reaffirming the exceptional international significance of Ashgabat's neutral policy. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov delivered a keynote speech outlining the country's new development strategy and peacekeeping initiatives.

Global Peacekeeping: From Confrontation to Balance

The head of state emphasized that the adoption of the Constitutional Law "On the Legal Foundations of the Peace and Trust Policy of Neutral Turkmenistan" was a landmark event, confirming the unwavering strategic commitment to achieving lasting peace and stability. President Serdar Berdimuhamedov stated that in challenging geopolitical circumstances, peace and trust are particularly significant and valuable.

He emphasized the need to move away from a dangerous confrontational bias toward building constructive, realistic, and balanced foundations for a global security and development architecture. Turkmenistan is convinced that this can only be achieved through concerted efforts by states and international institutions on a common political and humanitarian foundation, grounded in the UN Charter and recognized international legal norms. Turkmenistan is rightfully proud that new, humane, and forward-looking foundations for a global order are being formed on its land today.

Neutrality as an Economic Vector and Partnership with the UN

Turkmenistan's foreign policy is viewed not only as a peacekeeping tool but also as a key factor in domestic development and international cooperation.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized that neutrality and its derivative—an "open door" foreign economic policy—create favorable external conditions that enable the country to consistently achieve high rates of economic and social development. This policy facilitates dynamic trade and investment cooperation, making Turkmenistan an attractive, reliable, and promising partner for the implementation of major international projects. Thanks to this policy, an unprecedented level of trust and cooperation has been achieved with dozens of countries.

Interaction with the United Nations occupied a special place in his speech. The head of state noted that the UN views Turkmenistan as a responsible and effective partner in addressing critical global and regional issues, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and promoting equitable approaches to international cooperation. In this regard, Turkmenistan intends to expand its engagement with the UN, seeking the focused attention of its structures on the development and implementation of national, regional, and global programs.

Education for Peace: A New International Initiative

To develop the practical application of neutrality and its application in various parts of the world, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov has proposed an important international initiative:

Turkmenistan has proposed establishing a University of Peace and Neutrality in cooperation with the United Nations.

The initiative aims to leverage the extensive experience of the Community of Nations in peacekeeping and preventive diplomacy, as well as to conduct research and educational activities. The head of Turkmenistan expressed hope for broad support for this idea from the international community and confirmed his readiness to thoroughly explore it with friendly countries and partners.

The International Forum on Peace and Trust not only celebrated Turkmenistan's achievements over 30 years of neutrality but also served as a starting point for reflecting on regional and global processes. The representative attendance, which included the presidents of more than a dozen countries, from Russia and China to Iran and African states, as well as the key initiative to establish a University of Peace and Neutrality, confirmed that Ashgabat is actively shaping new, humane, and forward-looking foundations for a global order, affirming the values of peace, cooperation, equality, and trust in international politics.