On January 25, at the virtual summit of the leaders of China and Central Asian countries, its participants underlined the effectiveness of the current format of interaction and the importance of the Great Silk Road, which led to significant economic, scientific, technological, and cultural mutual enrichment of the countries of the world. In an interview to CentralAsia.news, Serdar Akiniyazov, a publicist, spoke about the historical importance and role of the Great Silk Road in the life of a number of countries.
— Turkmenistan is a whole era in the history of the ancient international routes of the Great Silk Road. Caravans and diplomatic missions, travelers and pilgrims discovered new cities for themselves, exchanged achievements in science and technology, culture and art, searched for ways of dialogue and mutual understanding between peoples. Everyone who visited this land admired its unsurpassed paradise horses, the art of carpet weavers, the skill of architects and jewelers, and noted the hospitality of the people. It is not for nothing that the Turkmens say «The guest is more important than the father», — said Akiniyazov.
Once many cities and states found themselves along the caravan routes of the Great Silk Road, which, in turn, made it possible to actively exchange not only trade and material, but also cultural values and achievements of various civilizations and peoples. This caravan route, opened in the 2nd century BC, became some kind of grandiose bridge from Asia to Europe, from East to West. The total length of the Great Silk Road was over seven thousand kilometers. Numerous travelers, both from one side and the other, discovered new cities for themselves, got acquainted with the traditions and customs of other peoples, and passed on their accumulated experience and knowledge. Camel caravans carried silk and porcelain, gold and silver, precious stones and weapons, exotic fruits and strange animals, paper and gunpowder, carpets and fabrics, spices and medicines, tea, rice etc…
— Since ancient times, Turkmenistan has been a crossroads of ancient caravan routes, a hub for different languages, cultures and civilizations. One of the most important sections of the Great Silk Road ran through the territory of modern Turkmenistan, connecting China, India, Central Asia, Iran, Iraq, the countries of the Middle East and the Mediterranean Sea. Such ancient Turkmen cities as Amul, Merv, Kunyaurgench, Nisa, Dehistan, Abiverd, located along the Great Silk Road, were generally recognized centers of culture and world science, — noted the publicist.
Unique structures were erected on the Turkmen land. These were caravanserais, mausoleums, mosques, and educational institutions. Their architecture amazed travelers. In libraries one could get acquainted with the works of great scientists of the East and Europe. Numerous pilgrims, having seen all this magnificence of the Turkmen cities, wrote down their impressions in travel diaries and this information was then distributed all over the world.
At present, Turkmenistan maintains comprehensive ties with many countries located on the routes of the Great Silk Road. These are China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Japan, Korea and others.
— Our country is actively involved in the process of international cooperation. Paying tribute to Turkmenistan for its contribution to the development of human culture, in 2012, Mary and, in 2016, Dashoguz were declared the cultural capitals of the Commonwealth by the decision of the Council of the Heads of State of the CIS, and in 2015, by the decision of the meeting of the Permanent Council of the International Organization TURKSOY, Mary was declared cultural capital of the Turkic world. These cities used to be one of the most important trade, cultural, scientific and educational centers along the entire length of the Great Silk Road, — underlined Akiniyazov.
Developing international cooperation, Turkmenistan takes the necessary measures to include about two and a half thousand monuments of antiquity and the Middle Ages, which were the key points of the Great Silk Road, in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Among them are caravanserais, palaces, mosques, about twenty-five sacred places located on the territory of Turkmenistan.
— In the prosperous epoch of the powerful state, Turkmenistan, having taken the most advanced traditions and ideas from the ancient Great Silk Road, follows the path of peace, friendship and solidarity. The country contributes to strengthening global peace and establishing humanitarian contacts, — said the publicist.