During a diplomatic meeting held at the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Belgium, Ambassador Sapar Palvanov and Deputy Regional Director of the UNICEF Regional Office Octavian Bivol discussed the future of bilateral relations. During the meeting, the parties paid special attention to vital areas such as supporting the younger generation, protecting children's rights, and improving the social sector. The Ambassador noted that our country views relations with the United Nations and its agencies as an essential condition for sustainable development. This was reported by the embassy's press service.
The meeting emphasized that investing in human capital to raise a healthy and educated generation forms the bedrock of the state's long-term stability. Octavian Bivol specifically highlighted that more than half of Turkmenistan's population consists of young people under the age of 30, describing this as a vast national resource and a powerful asset for future economic and social progress.
The sides also discussed the initiative to organize the presentation of the regional report titled "Generation 2050 in Central Asia" in Brussels. The Turkmen side proposed that this event should go beyond a standard report presentation and instead serve as a high-level, substantive dialogue platform involving Central Asian states, the European Union, and international financial institutions to strengthen human capital in the region.
The representative of the international organization highly praised the close partnership between UNICEF and Turkmenistan, expressing gratitude for the consistent support provided to national and regional projects. At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties reaffirmed their readiness to further develop cooperation aimed at ensuring the well-being of children and youth and implementing new joint initiatives.