On March 20, 2023, the Embassy of Turkmenistan in the People’s Republic of China in collaboration with the Chinese Horse Industry Association and the Beijing Sherwood Equestrian Club held a solemn event to mark the International Day of Nowruz, as well as the «Turkmenistan-China Youth Friendship Horse Farm» launching ceremony at the premises of the above-mentioned Eequestrian Club under the auspices of the Year of “Happy Youth with Arkadag Serdar”.
Over 200 ambassadors, diplomats and guests from more than 50 countries, Chinese government agencies, peace and friendship societies, enterprises, international and regional and non-governmental organizations, as well as private entrepreneurs and youth from Turkmenistan and China attended the event.
In his speech, the Ambassador of Turkmenistan P.Durdyev, noting the consonance of the coming into its own rights of spring, the harbinger of which is the International Day of Novruz, with the idea of the year of youth of Turkmenistan, the opening of a special platform for the Turkmen-Chinese youth dialogue, as well as the initiative of the President of Turkmenistan "Dialogue as a guarantee of peace", called on the guests of the event to get acquainted with the masterpieces of Turkmen art from the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List.
Akhal-Teke horses, handmade Turkmen carpets and chuvals, items of national clothes with embroidery - keshde, melodies of dutar and gopuz the national dance “Kushtdepdi” as well as dishes of traditional Turkmen cuisine were displayed for this solemn occasion and offered to the guests at the horse riding arena of the “Beijing Sherwood Equestrian Club”. The guests also had the opportunity to ride heavenly horses and take a photo for the memory.
During the festive event, Turkmen and Chinese students read poems by Magtymguly Fragi in Turkmen and Chinese.
Honorary Horse Breeder of Turkmenistan, Secretary General of the Chinese Horse Breeding Association Yue Guoafen and Head of the Beijing Sherwood Equestrian Club Luan Shu, expressing gratitude to the esteemed Arkadag and the President of Turkmenistan for the opportunity to visit Turkmenistan during the celebration of Horse Day, stressed the importance of the upcoming work in educating young people in the spirit of friendship and mutual understanding, strengthening interstate relations by using the opportunities presented at the site of this Turkmen-Chinese horse farm. They also assured that in the future they would make every effort for the successful operation of the emerging platform of communication not only between the youth of the parties, but also in other areas of humanitarian cooperation.
On the sidelines of the event, a dialogue took place between the Ambassador of Turkmenistan and journalists from the leading Chinese TV channels CGTN and Phoenix. In an interview, Ambassador P.Durdyev highlighted a number of topics of multifaceted bilateral Turkmen-Chinese cooperation, and also familiarized the Chinese audience with the significance of Novruz holiday in cultural and civilizational dialogue and the creation of the above-mentioned platform for communication between the youth of both countries.
