The ceremonial opening of the III International Contest for Young Diplomats and Students, titled "International Relations: Culture of Peaceful Dialogue," took place at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan (IIR). This intellectual competition has become a primary platform for young specialists to discuss urgent issues in modern diplomacy.

This year’s contest stands out due to the number of participants and its broad geography. The forum brought together nearly 160 of the most talented students from 9 countries.

Participants:

  • International Representatives: Prestigious universities from Central Asian countries, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the Caucasus.
  • National Representatives: Students from 24 leading higher education institutions in Turkmenistan.

Representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), along with international relations experts from China and Russia, highly praised the significance of the competition during the opening ceremony. The speeches focused on:

  • Developing preventive diplomacy skills among the youth.
  • Promoting neutrality and the culture of peaceful negotiations.
  • Exploring new methods of peaceful dialogue in international relations.

Organized by the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan and the IIR of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this contest aims to internationally disseminate the principles of Turkmenistan’s permanent Neutrality and enhance the professional level of young diplomats. Throughout the competition, students will perform various intellectual tasks to demonstrate their knowledge of international law, the history of diplomacy, and modern geopolitics.