The British Embassy in Turkmenistan held a gala reception in honor of Burns Day, an annual celebration commemorating the distinguished Scottish poet Robert Burns, according to the online newspaper "Golden Age."

The event was attended by heads of government agencies, heads of diplomatic missions, and representatives of international organizations accredited in the country.

The official part of the evening was opened by the British Ambassador to Ashgabat, Stephen Conlon, and the Minister of Culture of Turkmenistan, Atageldy Shamuradov. In their speeches, the parties noted the progressive development of bilateral relations in the political, diplomatic, trade, economic, and cultural spheres, and emphasized the importance of such events as a tool of cultural diplomacy.

The evening's program included readings of Burns's classic poetry and performances of traditional Scottish ceilidh dances. The central event was the serving of haggis, the national Scottish dish to which the poet dedicated one of his most famous odes.

Burns Day is celebrated annually on January 25, the birthday of the poet, who was born in 1759 in the village of Alloway. Festive events in his honor are held around the world until the end of February.