Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- From 7 to 17 March r, a delegation consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Heritage is in Paris and Rouen, France, in order to improve the training system.

Recently, a meeting was held between members of the delegation and the rector of the Grand Mosque in Paris, honorary lawyer Shamsiddin Hafiz.

It is known that about 10% of the population of France are representatives of the Islamic religion, which is about 6.5 million people.

And Muslims coming from France to Uzbekistan and Bukhara make up no more than 2%.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Uzbekistan is the center of Islamic culture for religious scholars from all over the world, as it is the land of Imam al-Bukhari, Imam at-Termizi and the Seven Pirs.

Among the proposals put forward during the meeting was the sending of scientists and representatives of religion, imams and madrasah teachers from Bukhara to France on the basis of cooperation, their meetings with Muslim communities in the direction of pilgrimage tourism.

Bukhara delegation also put forward such proposals as attracting tourists from France to Uzbekistan in the direction of pilgrimage tourism by presenting to the foreign reader aspects of the scientific heritage of our scientists that have not yet been studied and disclosed.

For his part, the rector of the mosque of France, Shamsiddin Hafiz, said that during the days of Ramadan, Taraveh prayers are also held in mosques in France, as well as competitions in reading the Koran among young people.

“The end of the competition coincides with the end of the month of Ramadan, and the best readers of the Koran can organize trips to Uzbekistan in the direction of pilgrimage tourism as a prize,” he said.

This proposal was approved by the Bukhara delegation and it was announced that it would be considered in the near future.

A meaningful meeting took place in one of the largest mosques in Paris.

This mosque was built in 1922 and this year marks its 100th anniversary. The mosque can accommodate more than 10 thousand people at the same time.

“We plan to organize a big event on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of this mosque, and I propose to create an exposition of Uzbekistan so that all Uzbeks living in France and the French population who come to the event get acquainted with Uzbek traditions,” Shamsiddin Hafiz said.

At the end of the meeting, the Bukhara delegation presented gift items reflecting our nationality.

Mr. Shamsiddin Hafiz, for his part, presented the Koran translated into French to the Bukhara delegation.

During the negotiations, an agreement was reached to work on all the agreed items, and a representative of the Grand Mosque of Paris in France was attached to the Uzbek delegation for joint work.