AKIPRESS.COM - The closing ceremony of the 8th International Congress of the World Society for the Study, Preservation and Popularization of the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan (WOSCU) was held in the Samarkand Congress Center, UzA reported.
More than 300 participants from 35 countries adopted the Samarkand Declaration and made a traditional address to the President of Uzbekistan. The researchers thanked President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for the congratulations he addressed to the participants of the 8th International Congress “The Legacy of the Great Ancestors – the Foundation of the Third Renaissance” on August 24, 2024. They noted that the warm attitude of the President of Uzbekistan “inspires them to discoveries and achievements”.
The experts noted President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s broad support for the idea of a humane Islam from the high tribune of the UN and emphasized the importance of spiritual enrichment. “We fully support your initiatives and are ready to become the most active participants in large-scale projects to preserve the cultural legacy of Uzbekistan for world civilization”, the scholars said.
The address highly praised the unique author’s mega-project of the Leader of Uzbekistan – the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan. The participants visited cultural sites and got acquainted with the majestic buildings of the Center of Islamic Civilization and the Imam al-Bukhari Spiritual Center. During the Congress, more than 300 reports, proposals, interviews, statements, and presentations were presented to develop joint projects to fill the Center of Islamic Civilization with high-quality content.
“We consider it our most important task not only to join the activities of the Center of Islamic Civilization, but also to create a powerful and rapidly developing scientific and cultural platform that will become a bright beacon of enlightenment and knowledge in the East”, the scholars concluded.
During the plenary session, the participants summarized the results of the 8th WOSCU Congress and approved the Roadmap of joint projects of the Center of Islamic Civilization, which will serve as the foundation for the substantive part of the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan. Among the current applications are the creation of facsimile copies of manuscripts, innovative developments in museology, new archaeological and ethnographic expeditions, and even the introduction of artificial intelligence in science.
The adopted Samarkand Declaration finalized the four-day work of the Congress and confirmed the commitment of the Congress participants to the ideas of progress and enlightenment. On behalf of more than 300 participants from 35 countries, including the heads of 10 major international organizations such as IRCICA, TURKSOY, the Al-Furqan Islamic Heritage Foundation, the Institute of the Arab World, the International Turkic Academy, the League of Arab States and other international organizations, 15 academicians, 40 professors, directors of 5 publishing houses, 103 doctors of science, 54 directors of museums and libraries and others, it was read by the Director of the Al-Furqan Islamic Heritage Foundation Sali Shahsivari.
“We recognize the importance of the initiatives of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to establish the Center of Islamic Civilization. This cultural and humanistic mega-project will give a powerful impetus to fundamental research dedicated to the worthy contribution of great scholars and thinkers of the East to the development of world science and civilization, including Islam. We are concerned about the situation in the world and believe that the ideas of the President of Uzbekistan on the truly humanistic and educational essence of the religion of Islam, voiced from the high rostrum of the UN, are worthy of the closest attention. Implementing these ideas under the motto “Enlightenment against Ignorance” will strengthen peace and cooperation. We call on all scholars and researchers, representatives of culture, and the public to unite around this large-scale project, which will undoubtedly open up new opportunities and prospects for international cooperation”.
At the final session of the congress, the WOSCU International Golden Book Award was presented this year to 10 orientalists from Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
Journalists from 20 foreign media outlets, including CNN, Euronews, Russia-Culture, Mir, and TV channels of Central Asian countries, have also been invited.