On August 19, the opening ceremony of the Uzbek-Turkmen Youth Forum, which runs from August 18 to 21, took place in the city of Khiva in the Khorezm region of Uzbekistan. A delegation from the Magtymguly Youth Organization of Turkmenistan, headed by the Chairman of the Central Council of the organization, Yazpolat Keriyev, is taking part in the event.

During the opening ceremony, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Agency for Youth Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Magtymguly Youth Organization of Turkmenistan. The Director of the Agency for Youth Affairs of Uzbekistan, Alisher Sadullaev, the Deputy Khakim of the Khorezm Region, Sanat Salaev, and the head of the Turkmen delegation delivered welcoming remarks.

In his speech, Keriyev noted the historical role of Khiva as one of the centers of science and culture on the Great Silk Road, emphasizing that Magtymguly Fragi received his knowledge at the local Shirgazi Khan madrasah. He also recalled the traditions of good-neighborliness between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, noting the opening of Ashgabat Park in Tashkent and Tashkent Park in Ashgabat as examples of cultural exchange, as well as the results of the 22nd World Ahal-Teke Horse Championship, "Pearl of the East," held in May in Uzbekistan.

The head of the Turkmen youth organization pointed to the systemic legal framework for youth cooperation between the two countries, established by the 2018 memorandum, and cited several examples of joint initiatives in recent years, including the participation of Turkmen youth in the international program "Cross-Border Initiative of Young Peacemakers" in Fergana, the inclusion of the Youth Organization of Turkmenistan named after Magtymguly in the UNESCO Global Network of Youth Communities, and participation in the 14th UNESCO Youth Forum in Samarkand, as well as the V International Rally "Youth - Builders of the Future" in August of this year.

He also reminded major international platforms organized by Turkmenistan with the participation of the Uzbek side: the "Dialogue – Guarantee of Peace" forum in Arkadag in 2023, the Central Asian and Chinese Youth Forum in Mary, and the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) in Awaza.

According to the program, in addition to the plenary session and presentations on youth policy, forum participants will enjoy a cultural program, visits to historical sites in Khiva and Urgench, and an introduction to the activities of youth centers in Uzbekistan. The forum will conclude on August 21.