Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  From 23 to 26 August, the VIII International Congress of the World Society for the Study, Preservation, and Promotion of Uzbekistan’s Cultural Heritage (WOSCU) is being held in Tashkent and Samarkand. The event, titled "The Heritage of Great Ancestors — The Foundation of the Third Renaissance," is organized by the Center for Islamic Civilization under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The Congress is being held with organizational and financial support from the Government of Uzbekistan and ERIELL GROUP, with participation from partners including TÜRKSOY, IRCICA, and the Al-Furqan Foundation.

The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, sent a welcome message to the Congress, which was read by Presidential Advisor Khayriddin Sultanov.

The main theme of the VIII Congress is focused on the content of museums in the Center for Islamic Civilization and the Imam Bukhari Museum. This decision was made during a forum organized by the Center for Islamic Civilization in July this year, titled "The Heritage of Great Ancestors — The Foundation of the Third Renaissance."

The Congress is attended by about 300 world-renowned scholars from 35 countries, including 180 foreign and 110 Uzbek experts. Participants include 15 academicians, 40 professors and associate professors, 103 doctors of science, 54 museum and library directors, 5 university rectors, directors of 5 publishing houses, and leaders from IRCICA, ISESCO, TÜRKSOY, the Al-Furqan Foundation, the International Turkic Academy, the League of Arab States, and other international organizations.

Following the welcome speeches, the plenary session began, where foreign designers presented their projects and visions for the Center for Islamic Civilization. National experts presented joint projects, including videos on the exhibitions of the Center and the innovative Imam Bukhari Museum.

After the plenary session, experts divided into seven thematic sections to discuss and debate the presented projects related to exhibitions in the museum halls of the Center for Islamic Civilization and the Imam Bukhari Museum. More than 100 scholars delivered unique reports. A separate block was dedicated to presenting modern technological projects for the museums of the Center for Islamic Civilization and the Imam Bukhari Museum, with participation from specialists from the USA and Russia. At the end of the discussions, project proposals for the museum exhibitions will be approved in each of the seven sections.

Firdaus Abdukhalikov, Director of the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, noted the importance of the Third Renaissance in the country under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. He emphasized the significance of the Congress in promoting New Uzbekistan’s development path in the cultural and humanitarian spheres, achievements during the new period of reforms, and fostering effective cooperation with local scholars and the international expert community to study, preserve, and promote the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of the Uzbek people.

In an interview, Shakhin Mustafayev, President of the International Turkic Academy and academician, stressed the importance of holding such a large-scale international congress regularly. He highlighted the relevance of the event not only for the promotion and study of Uzbekistan’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage but also for all Turkic peoples. He also mentioned plans to sign a memorandum of cooperation between the International Turkic Academy and WOSCU, which will involve joint research and various events.

Parallel to the scholars’ work, the TÜRKSOY forum will begin, involving representatives from the film industry of Turkic-speaking countries, with presentations of films scheduled.

On the third working day of the Congress, on 25 August, key WOSCU projects will be presented, including new WOSCU publications from the series "Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan in World Collections," "Qurans of Uzbekistan," facsimiles of unique manuscripts, and innovative projects for the museums of the Center for Islamic Civilization and the Imam Bukhari Museum. The TÜRKSOY forum will continue, culminating in the signing of memorandums and the adoption of the TÜRKSOY forum’s resolution, "New Renaissance: Cinema and Media Supporting Heritage."

On the final day of the Congress, the results of the summit will be summarized, a roadmap for joint projects of the Center for Islamic Civilization will be approved, and the composition of the International Expert Council of the Center for Islamic Civilization will be confirmed. The WOSCU "Golden Book" international awards will be presented, and the traditional address of the VIII International Congress participants will be adopted. The day will conclude with participation in the opening ceremony of the international festival "Sharq Taronalari."