The forum aims to promote the preservation, study, and global promotion of the rich spiritual and scientific heritage of Islamic civilization, which also serves as an important foundation for the further development of pilgrimage (ziyarat) and cultural tourism in Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan holds a special place on the map of Islamic civilization thanks to its unique architectural monuments, rich historical and cultural heritage, renowned scholarly traditions, and the works of great thinkers who have made a significant contribution to the development of world civilization over the centuries.
Today, this heritage continues to attract pilgrims, researchers, and tourists from around the world, while the forum further strengthens Uzbekistan's international image as one of the leading centers of Islamic cultural heritage and pilgrimage tourism.
The forum is a natural continuation of the initiatives put forward by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, during the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2017. These initiatives marked a new stage in the study, preservation, and promotion of the rich scientific and spiritual heritage of Islamic civilization, highlighting the contribution of the scholars of the Central Asian Renaissance to the development of world science and culture, while advancing the principles of enlightenment and religious tolerance at the international level.
The event has brought together around 300 international participants from more than 50 countries. Among them are ICESCO Director-General Salim AlMalik, IRCICA Director General Mahmud Erol Kılıç, TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev, President of the International Turkic Academy Shahin Mustafayev, as well as heads of international organizations, prominent public figures, and leading scholars from Uzbekistan and abroad.
In addition to scientific discussions and plenary meetings, the forum programme introduces international participants to Uzbekistan's rich historical, cultural, and spiritual heritage. Guests will visit the exhibition of the Islamic Civilization Center, the Imam Al-Bukhari Innovation Museum, and other places of interest. These visits provide participants with a deeper understanding of Uzbekistan's unique cultural heritage and further promote the country as one of the leading destinations for pilgrimage (ziyarat) and cultural tourism.
On the first day of the forum, plenary sessions focused on the role of the Islamic Civilization Center as an international scientific and educational platform, reforms in Uzbekistan's religious and educational sphere, and the preservation and promotion of the rich heritage of Islamic civilization.
Overall, the forum features four international scientific conferences, eleven plenary meetings, thematic sessions, presentations of scientific and publishing projects, as well as a cultural programme and visits to Uzbekistan's historical, cultural, and spiritual heritage sites.
