President Mirziyoyev Meets with ICESCO Director General
Tashkent, The Gulf Observer: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev welcomed Salim AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), who arrived in Uzbekistan to participate in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s meeting of tourism ministers, set to be held in Khiva. The visit and discussions were reported by media outlets and detailed by the press service of the Uzbek President.
During the meeting, practical aspects of fostering a constructive dialogue and fruitful cooperation with ICESCO in the fields of science, culture, education, and tourism were thoroughly examined.
Director General AlMalik expressed his deep gratitude for the warm reception and highly praised Uzbekistan’s efforts in preserving, studying, and popularizing its rich scientific and cultural heritage. He commended the policy initiatives implemented in Uzbekistan aimed at safeguarding and celebrating its historical and cultural assets.
President Mirziyoyev expressed his satisfaction with the current state of mutually beneficial and dynamic cooperation with ICESCO. He highlighted significant milestones in this collaboration, noting that Tashkent was designated as the capital of Islamic culture in 2007, followed by Bukhara in 2020, and Samarkand set to receive the status in 2025. This year, Khiva has been named the tourist capital of the Islamic world.
The President also emphasized the importance of the International Islamic Academy in Tashkent, which houses a special ICESCO department dedicated to the study of Islamic civilization. This department represents a crucial element in the ongoing cultural and educational exchange between Uzbekistan and ICESCO.
New areas of cooperation discussed included the exchange of expertise and the implementation of projects focused on the preservation and restoration of manuscripts and other historical monuments. Additionally, the training and professional development of Arabic language teachers and the organization of international scientific and cultural events were highlighted as key initiatives.
A significant point of discussion was the potential opening of a regional representative office of ICESCO in Uzbekistan. This initiative aims to further enhance practical cooperation and promote joint projects, fostering deeper ties between Uzbekistan and ICESCO.
The meeting underscored the shared commitment to advancing educational, scientific, and cultural collaborations, ensuring the continued growth and development of both Uzbekistan and the broader Islamic world.
