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 and noted that the warm attitude of the President of Uzbekistan “inspires them to new discoveries and achievements”.
“We, as your like-minded people, fully support the large-scale reforms carried out in New Uzbekistan in all spheres, including education, science, culture and enlightenment, called the Third Renaissance. New Uzbekistan is increasingly gaining international authority as one of the centers of science and enlightenment. We fully share your conviction that high spirituality, enlightenment, as well as the study and preservation of the country's cultural heritage are the key to the sustainable development of the state and the creation of a prosperous future,” the adress states.
The experts noted the broad support for the idea of a humane Islam expressed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev 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 head 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, aimed at developing 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 summed up the results of the 8th WOSCU Congress, 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 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 Foundation Sali Shakhsivari.
"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 Islamic. 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. The implementation of these ideas under the motto "Enlightenment against Ignorance" will serve to 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, which this year went to 10 orientalists from Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Turkiye, Great Britain 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.
