Around 20 thousand Turkmen schoolchildren and university students are studying French with the support of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan and the French Institute in Turkmenistan. This was announced by Philippe Merlin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Turkmenistan, at a reception marking France's National Day, held in Ashgabat on July 14.

According to the ambassador, French language instruction is conducted within the framework of cooperation between Turkmen educational institutions and the French Institute, which also implements a number of cultural and educational projects in the country. The ambassador noted that efforts to promote the French language and expand educational programs would continue.