On November 16, a celebration on the occasion of summing up the events dedicated to the proclamation of the city of Anau as the cultural capital of the Turkic world in 2024 took place in the building "Türkmeniň ak öýi" in the Nowruz valley of the Ak Bugdai etrap of the Ahal Velayat, and a concert of cultural figures of the Turkic states was held within its framework.

The development of effective cooperation with the International Organization of Turkic Culture is one of the important directions of the policy of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, who successfully continues the initiatives of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Hero-Arkadag.

A vivid confirmation of this is the decision to declare the ancient Turkmen city of Anau the cultural capital of the Turkic world in 2024.

The program "Cultural Capital of the Turkic World" is aimed at unlocking the cultural potential of the Turkic peoples and familiarizing them with their heritage. Its purpose is to draw attention to the creative history of different cities of Turkic–speaking countries and hold various events rich in content, and on the basis of this, strengthen friendly ties between the Turkic peoples that have been formed over the centuries and develop cultural exchange.

The ancient cities of Turkmenistan have already been nominated for this Program twice, which served as an incentive for the scientific and creative intelligentsia of the country to study their glorious history and rich national culture in more depth, and popularize modern achievements.

In 2015, the city of Mary was awarded this honorary status. As part of the celebrations dedicated to this event, various events were successfully held that contributed to the development of cooperation and friendly relations between Turkic-speaking countries and

peoples.

On November 16, a festive atmosphere prevailed in the Nowruz valley. The Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, who oversees the sphere of culture, heads and representatives of public organizations, mass media, diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in our country gathered here.

Among the guests are the heads of the International Organization of Turkic Culture and the relevant ministries of the TURKSOY member countries.

As noted in the speeches, on the occasion of awarding this honorary status to the city of Anau, the Turkmen capital hosted the II Theater festival of the TURKSOY member countries, the Gorkut ata film festival, a concert of singers in the Türkmenien ak öyi building in the Nowruz valley of the Ak Bugdai etrap of the Akhal Velayat, as well as an exhibition of works by artists, decorative andapplied arts and photographic works of the Turkic peoples, a conference of heads of state and national museums of the member countries of this Organization, etc.

Speaking at the ceremony, Secretary General of TURKSOY Sultan Raev noted that the international events organized on the occasion of the proclamation of the city of Anau as the cultural capital of the Turkic world in 2024 are of great importance in strengthening cultural dialogue between the Turkic peoples, expressing gratitude to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the National Leader of the Turkmen people Hero-Arkadag for the high level of organization celebrations.

Then a festive concert of masters of arts of Turkmenistan and Turkic-speaking countries took place, in which folklore and modern song and music compositions reflecting the centuries-old original traditions of our fraternal peoples were performed.

The performances of domestic artists, revealing the richest palette of Turkmen art, imbued with love for an independent Homeland, praised the great initiatives implemented by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in the era of the Revival of a new era of a powerful state, our amazing nature.

Famous creative ensembles, singers and folklore groups of the country demonstrated their skills.

Turkish, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Kazakh dance groups and soloists who performed during the concert presented the multifaceted potential of the art of the Turkic-speaking peoples.

With their magnificent song and music compositions, the artists tried to convey to the audience the national spirit and flavor, the importance of strengthening kind-hearted and friendly relations between peoples.

During the event, the official delegation of the city of Aktau of the Republic of Kazakhstan, declared the cultural capital of the Turkic world in 2025, was awarded a special TURKSOY cup and the transitional symbol of the Gorkut ata International Film Festival – the Crane statuette.

The decoration of the concert was the ancient kushtdepdi dance. This remarkable and inspiring performance demonstrated the antiquity of the roots of fraternal peoples and the unifying power of art.

The final chord of the celebration was the song "Turkmenistan – dost-doganlyk mekany" performed by all participants of the creative holiday.

At the end of the event, the participants adopted a thank-you Address to the head of state, in which it was noted that as a result of the constant support and assistance of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Hero Arkadag and President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, wide opportunities and conditions are being created for in-depth study of the glorious history, cultural heritage, further development of culture and art of the Turkmen people.

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Also today, the Aşgabat Hotel in the capital hosted an award ceremony for the winners of international competitions of works and drawings by young artists held on the occasion of the announcement of 2024 as the "Year of the Great Poet and Thinker of the Turkic World – Mahtumkuly Fragi" and the proclamation of the city of Anau as the cultural capital of the Turkic world.

The international jury of the contests held under the auspices of TURKSOY determined the winners separately for each of the countries.

First, the awards were presented to the best young participants of the competition "Mahtumkuly Fragi – thinker and poet".

Then the names of the winners of the international competition among young artists of the Turkic countries "Cultural heritage of the Turkic peoples and Anau culture" were announced.

The holding of these events was another confirmation of the intensification of cultural dialogue among the youth of the Turkic world.

Source: State News Agency of Turkmenistan