Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan marked the 25th anniversary of the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AK Party, in Ankara on Friday, saying the party’s work is not finished. Addressing supporters at an anniversary event in the capital’s National Garden, he described the occasion as a very special and historic day and declared, “We have just begun.”

The AK Party was founded under Erdogan’s leadership on August 14, 2001, after he had served as Istanbul mayor. Erdogan said the party’s governments had carried out major investments and development projects in the economy, health, education and transport over the past 25 years. He also credited ordinary voters’ trust for the party’s long political success, saying the party used the responsibility and resources entrusted to it to strengthen and develop the country.

Erdogan said the party would not stop after a quarter-century in power and urged supporters not to expect it to become tired. He said the AK Party would work toward Turkey’s long-term goals for 2053 and 2071 and take a more active role in shaping the country’s future. At a meeting of the party’s founding board, Erdogan was unanimously elected party chairman.