Samarkand was declared the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World in 2025 by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO).
On May 26-27 of this year, Samarkand is hosting the international forum "Spiritual Heritage and Cultural Expressions of the Islamic World: Calligraphy, Music, Poetry and Solidarity" and the events "Samarkand City - Cultural Capital of the Islamic World in 2025." Representatives of more than 20 member states of the ICESCO organization will take part in the events.
Today, Uzbekistan's cooperation with ICESCO in the fields of education, science, and culture is consistently developing. The organization declared Tashkent the "Capital of Islamic Culture" in 2007 and Bukhara in 2020.
At the same time, at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and in cooperation with the ICESCO organization, the International Cultural Forum "Central Asia at the Crossroads of World Civilizations" was held in September 2021 in the city of Khiva.
For reference: ICESCO began its activities in May 1982. The headquarters is located in the city of Rabat (Morocco). Currently, 54 countries are members of the organization. Since 2019, the position of General Director has been held by Salim bin Muhammad al-Malik.
The organization conducts scientific research events, including conferences, seminars, and round tables, aimed at preserving cultural heritage, restoring historical and architectural monuments and memorials, restoring museums and manuscripts. Meetings of the Ministers of Education, Scientific Research, Environment, and Culture of the member states will also be held annually.