Education as the Foundation of Trust Diplomacy – Meeting at Grodno University

The university environment of the city of Grodno has become a new platform for developing cultural and academic dialogue between Turkmenistan and Belarus. The Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Belarus, Nazarguly Shagulyev, visited the Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno, where he met with the university leadership and Turkmen students. The meeting was dedicated to the 35th anniversary of Turkmenistan's state independence.

At the beginning of the visit, a working meeting was held with the Rector of the university, Doctor of Historical Sciences Irina Kiturko. The parties moved away from formal discussions to focus on more important and practical issues. They discussed the training of specialists for the economy of Turkmenistan, the living conditions and adaptation of students in Grodno, as well as new forms of cooperation with one of Belarus's leading higher education institutions.

The official part of the meeting featured a presentation on Turkmenistan's development strategy. Ambassador Shagulyev provided a detailed explanation of the essence of the 2026 motto — "Independent, perpetually Neutral Turkmenistan – the land of rapid achievements."

A key event was the presentation of the book "Neutrality of Turkmenistan – a bright path of peace and trust" by the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov. The diplomat noted that this work serves as an important roadmap for building a global dialogue that prioritizes trust over force.

The most touching moment of the meeting was emotional. Turkmen students studying at Grodno University prepared a poetic performance. They recited poems by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and performed patriotic songs.

Such meetings in Belarusian universities are a traditional form of the continuous dialogue conducted by the Embassy of Turkmenistan. This dialogue serves to develop long-term intellectual and professional cooperation between the countries and to promote the values of neutrality among the youth.

When students do not just receive an education but also act as representatives of their culture, academic cooperation becomes a living part of interstate relations. Teachers at Grodno University also noted that such interactions give a humanitarian meaning to the educational process, turning it into a creative collaboration of generations.