President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov sent an address to the participants of the international festival "Music of Peace" held in Ashgabat, TDH reports.

In his address, the head of state noted the special significance of holding the festival in the "International Year of Peace and Trust", also marked by the 30th anniversary of the country's permanent neutrality.

"The noble initiatives of our independent state aimed at strengthening global peace and unity on the planet are receiving broad support from the world community. Currently, the development of international cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere is becoming one of the priorities of state policy," the Turkmen leader emphasized.

The international festival will include concerts, creative meetings and master classes with the participation of famous artists from Turkmenistan and foreign countries. Domestic and foreign composers, conductors and musicians will present their achievements and exchange experiences. A cultural program with visits to the capital's attractions and museums has also been organized for the guests.

The President of Turkmenistan noted that there are a number of higher, specialized and secondary professional educational institutions in the country whose activities are aimed at developing musical art. "They provide ample opportunities for learning the subtle secrets of musical art, learning to sing and perform musical works, and creating compositions," the address says.