Central Asian Youth Make Their Voice Heard at the UN

On April 16, 2025, the headquarters of the United Nations in New York hosted a major milestone for youth diplomacy in the region — the Second Meeting of the Youth Dialogue of Central Asian Countries. The Statement adopted by the participants was officially published in 6 languages as a document of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council under the symbol A/79/894–S/2025/255, marking a significant recognition of the role of Central Asian youth on the global stage.

The event was part of the high-level segment of the ECOSOC Youth Forum and was dedicated to the 10th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 2250 on “Youth, Peace and Security.” Held under the motto “Voices of Youth for Peace and Trust,” the forum brought together delegations from 43 countries of the world, as well as representatives of the UN system, international organizations, and youth leaders from leading universities.

The Statement of the participants emphasizes that in Central Asia, the majority of the population is young people under the age of 30, and calls on them to use their opportunities to contribute to sustainable development, ecological cooperation, and the rational use of water resources.

The 13-point document highlights the collective vision of the region’s youth regarding key global and regional priorities — from achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to promoting ecological responsibility, green energy, digital diplomacy, and inclusive governance. The Statement strongly advocates for institutionalizing the Youth Dialogue through annual rotational meetings hosted by different Central Asian countries.

The Statement underlines the following:

"Recognizing the importance of Security Council resolution 2250 (2015), which was the first document in history to formalize the role of youth in the maintenance of peace and security, we note its historical significance. Over the past 10 years, the international community has made significant progress in implementing the provisions of the resolution, including developing national strategies and action plans, organizing international youth meetings and launching initiatives to engage young people in peacekeeping activities. We reaffirm the relevance of the youth, peace and security agenda and the commitment to further realize its goals.

We note that 2025 was declared the International Year of Peace and Trust by General Assembly resolution 78/266 of 21 March 2024. This is a global initiative to highlight the importance of strengthening peace initiatives and dialogue among peoples and generations, and of promoting a culture of trust in international relations. Particular importance is attached to the role of youth as agents of social change capable of building inclusive and sustainable communities. We highly appreciate this initiative and intend to contribute to its realization by promoting the ideas of peace and trust at all levels.

Recalling the landmark thirtieth anniversary of the permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan established in 1995, which was recognized by General Assembly resolution 50/80 A of 12 December 1995 and reaffirmed twice, by Assembly resolution 69/285 of 3 June 2015 and the Assembly resolution of 21 March 2025, we emphasize that the policy of neutrality has become an important contribution to strengthening peace and stability in Central Asia. Neutrality, which has become a symbol of the commitment to peaceful principles, today serves as a solid basis for the development of an atmosphere of trust and good-neighbourliness in the region. We welcome the efforts of Turkmenistan and other countries of the region to promote the ideals of peace and mutual respect, including through the annual celebration of the International Day of Neutrality on 12 December and the work of the Group of Friends of Neutrality at the United Nations.

We note the importance of the Economic and Social Council youth forum, which contributes to strengthening the role of youth as active participants in positive changes in the Central Asian region and the world.

We emphasize the contribution of Central Asia to peace, sustainability and inter-State cooperation. The Central Asian region today is a space for active dialogue and creative interaction. Welcoming the declaration in General Assembly resolution 76/299 of 28 July 2022 of Central Asia as a zone of peace, trust and cooperation, we A/79/894 S/2025/255 25-06961 3/4 note that our States are consistently strengthening regional cohesion. Regular consultative meetings of the Central Asian Heads of States, the work of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia in Ashgabat and other multilateral initiatives contribute to jointly addressing security and development challenges in the region. We are convinced that the further deepening of inter-State cooperation in Central Asia provides a solid foundation for the peace and prosperity of our peoples.

Also, the Statement notes the demographic dividend in Central Asia, which is due to the fact that young people make up a significant part of the population in the region. In today’s world, more than half of the population is under the age of 30, and Central Asia is no exception. Young people are not only beneficiaries of peace, but also active participants and leaders in peacebuilding processes, with great creative potential. We call for the energy, skills and innovative ideas of the younger generation to continue to be harnessed for the benefit of the region’s sustainable development.

Turkmenistan’s policy of permanent neutrality was recognized in the Statement as a foundation of stability and peace in the region. The document also emphasizes the importance of regional cooperation, youth participation in decision-making processes, and readiness to contribute to upcoming global forums.

A key focus was placed on the upcoming Youth Forum scheduled for August 2025 in the Avaza National Tourist Zone in Turkmenistan, held as part of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3). The youth of Central Asia view this event as an opportunity to amplify their voices and connect with peers from around the world on issues that matter to developing, landlocked nations.

In this context, Turkmenistan’s leadership stands out as a cornerstone of youth diplomacy and peacebuilding efforts in Central Asia. Under the guidance of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the country has consistently advanced global dialogue rooted in neutrality, mutual respect, and sustainable development. The publication of the Statement as an official UN document affirms Turkmenistan’s rising international profile and its constructive contributions to uniting youth for peace, trust, and prosperity worldwide.

Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan