Key Points of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's General Lesson: From Neutrality to a "Smart Society"
On September 2, at the Ruhyýet Palace in Arkadag, National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty (People's Council) Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held a General Lesson to mark the start of the new academic year. The speech served as a comprehensive manifesto, integrating the conceptual foundations of independent Turkmenistan's foreign policy, Eurasian-scale geoeconomic projects, academic prospects, and the spiritual and moral education of the younger generation into a single, coherent strategy for state building.
Addressing schoolchildren, students, and young professionals in key sectors of the economy, the National Leader of the Turkmen people emphasized that the key task of the new generation is to consolidate the achievements of the country's independent development and implement long-term programs. The foundation of the state's stability is its status of permanent neutrality, recognized globally by three UN General Assembly resolutions. Currently, Turkmenistan's neutrality has transformed from a foreign policy doctrine into an effective instrument of international stability and preventive diplomacy.
The practical implementation of this strategy was the opening of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia in Ashgabat in 2007 (the 20th anniversary of which the international community will celebrate in 2026), as well as the promotion of the global philosophy of "Dialogue is the Guarantee of Peace."
The celebration of the International Year of Peace and Trust in 2025, the consolidation of states within the Group of Friends of Neutrality, the initiative to establish a UN Mediation Chamber, and the granting of priority status to neutral countries in peacekeeping missions are shaping a new culture of respectful dialogue on the global stage. To deepen the theoretical, scientific, and practical foundations of neutrality, a specialized department has been established within the Institute of International Relations. It is planned to use this department to hold consultations on the creation of an Academic Center for Peace, Neutrality, and Preventive Diplomacy, with subsequent plans to establish a University of Peace and Neutrality under the auspices of the UN.
Turkmenistan's foreign policy is based on the deep humanistic traditions of national thought—the legacy of Dovletmammet Azadi, Nurmuhamed Andalib, Magtymguly Pyragy, and other outstanding thinkers. The adoption by the UN General Assembly of 33 resolutions initiated by Ashgabat reflects a consistent course towards the humanization of international relations and the subordination of geopolitical interests to the Sustainable Development Goals. This principle is directly reflected in the country's key international initiatives: the call for the complete depoliticization of the energy sector, the development of an "Energy Code" under the auspices of the UN, the promotion of the Caspian Environmental Initiative announced by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, and the consolidation of the provisions of the Avaza Declaration and the Programme of Action of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC).
As a natural bridge between Central and South Asia, the Caspian region, and the Middle East, Turkmenistan is leveraging its geographic location for global integration projects within the framework of the "Revival of the Great Silk Road" concept. In the transport and logistics sector, key roles are played by maximizing the use of the Turkmenbashi International Seaport, establishing through tariffs along the Trans-Caspian route, constructing a highway to the border with Kazakhstan, and promoting UN transport diplomacy. At the same time, the practical implementation of strategic energy projects continues, including the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) transnational gas pipeline, which is capable of supplying raw materials to the subcontinent with a population of 2 billion and creating over 12,000 jobs in Afghanistan, as well as the development of the TAP parallel power transmission line.
Having transformed the structure of the national economy over the years of independence, the country maintains trade and economic ties with more than 100 countries, systematically works with the world's largest financial institutions, and is taking procedural steps to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Sharing the challenges of the 21st century associated with the rapid development of artificial intelligence and digitalization, the Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty set the goal of moving beyond the "smart city" format to the comprehensive concept of a "Smart Society." To realize this technological breakthrough, it was proposed to actively engage students in the creation of innovative startups, as well as to create a legal framework for the establishment of international youth scientific and educational clusters in Turkmenistan.
At the same time, technological progress must be based on the unshakable foundation of national identity. Turkmenistan is the hearth of ancient agricultural and urban civilizations: Jeytun, Anau, Margush, Dehistan, and Kunya-Urgench. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov shared his personal experience of participating in archaeological excavations with Vadim Masson, naming Viktor Sarianidi among the world's leading academic scholars, and emphasizing the invaluable scientific legacy of Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Farabi, Biruni, Ibn Sina, and the literary monuments "Oguznama" and "Gerogly."
Part of the lesson was devoted to the concept of "turkmenchilik"—the moral pinnacle of national culture, defining the continuity of generations, respect for elders, and social cohesion. The role of the teacher in this process was particularly important. Drawing on the life example of his grandfather, Berdimuhamed Annayev, who dedicated his life to teaching, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov called on teachers to continuously improve their qualifications, bring their teaching methods in line with the demands of the times, and recited lines from his father, Myalikguly Berdimuhamedov, from the poem "Ata Pendi."
The Turkmen language is considered the link between culture and statehood, and honoring it is the sacred duty of every citizen, along with a thorough study of foreign languages. Summing up the General Lesson, Chairman of the People's Council Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed his firm confidence that the younger generation of sovereign Turkmenistan will continue the path of prosperity and innovative development of their homeland with dignity.
