ISTANBUL, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday announced a comprehensive 10-year national strategy aimed at protecting family structures and reversing declining birth rates.

Speaking at the "Family and Population Vision 2026-2035" program in Istanbul, Erdogan emphasized that preserving the family structure and promoting marriage are at the forefront of the government's agenda for the coming decade.

The roadmap also focuses on increasing fertility rates, ensuring youth development alongside elderly welfare, and fostering rural development to achieve a balanced population distribution.

"The family is also transforming in the age of digital techno-culture and faces significant challenges," Erdogan noted.

The president added that the government is striving to prepare the country and the nation for the future during this period, and the initiative aims to strengthen the social fabric and ensure long-term demographic stability.

Erdogan also announced that the last week of May will be celebrated as "National Family Week" to bolster social awareness. ■