TASHKENT, August 26 (AJP) -Uzbek officials highlighted the country's rapid modernization and deeper integration into the global community while stressing efforts to preserve its cultural roots and use its Islamic heritage as a bridge to the wider world.
“Given the current geopolitical difficulties around the world, Central Asia is increasingly important to global progress,” Munira Aminova, adviser to Uzbekistan’s foreign minister, said Wednesday, highlighting the region’s growing role in international cooperation.
“I want to ask you to pay attention to the little details of our transformation. Uzbekistan is changing very rapidly. Wherever you go, new buildings and new infrastructure are being built. This is just the beginning,” Aminova said.
Speaking at the International Media Forum “Islamic Civilization: A New Perspective — New Discoveries” in Tashkent, Aminova said the presence of international journalists and experts was recognition that Uzbekistan was moving in the right direction.
She said the Silk Road had historically been more than a trade route, serving as a channel for the exchange of knowledge between continents.
The Center for Islamic Civilization, she added, was intended not only to preserve and present the past but also to serve Uzbekistan’s present and future as an instrument of cultural diplomacy. “Building trust between countries is related to culture,” Aminova said.
She encouraged foreign participants to look beyond the center’s major exhibits and pay attention to the broader changes taking place across Uzbekistan.
The forum later turned to efforts to preserve and reproduce historic Quran manuscripts, highlighting the painstaking work involved in protecting Islamic cultural heritage for future generations.
Alexander Wilhelm, vice president of Austrian publishing house Mueller & Schindler, presented its “114 Qurans” project, which has brought together 114 Quran manuscripts to showcase the diversity and richness of Islamic calligraphy. Wilhelm said the manuscripts are being reproduced in high-quality publications designed to faithfully preserve the colors and visual details of the originals.
Rustam Djabborov, scientific secretary of the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, discussed the lengthy restoration and research work surrounding the Kattalangar Quran.
“We have not even completed half of the work yet,” Djabborov said, underscoring the scale of the preservation project.
Alexei Telnov, director general of the St. Petersburg Documentary Film Studio, also introduced an upcoming documentary titled “Mosque,” part of a project exploring the shared historical heritage of Uzbekistan and Russia.
Telnov said around 1 million Uzbeks live in Russia, describing them as “our brothers.” He said the documentary, filmed by an Uzbek cinematographer, is expected to be released soon.
AJP Takeaways
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Uzbekistan is positioning Central Asia as an increasingly important region for global cooperation, with Munira Aminova, adviser to Uzbekistan’s foreign minister, highlighting cultural diplomacy and the Silk Road’s legacy at an international media forum in Tashkent.
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The Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan aims to connect Islamic history with the country’s modern development, presenting cultural heritage as a tool for building international trust while showcasing Uzbekistan’s rapid transformation.
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Historic Quran preservation emerged as a major focus of the Tashkent forum, including Mueller & Schindler’s “114 Qurans” project and the Center for Islamic Civilization’s extensive restoration and research on the Kattalangar Quran.
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