Uzbekistan Presents Initiative to Advance Central Asia's Scientific Heritage at UNESCO

More than 300 participants take part in Paris event on preserving, studying and promoting the region's scientific and spiritual legacy

PARIS, Oct. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Uzbekistan presented an international initiative at UNESCO Headquarters on Oct. 7 to preserve, study and promote the scientific and spiritual heritage of Central Asia, highlighting the region's enduring contribution to world civilization.

The event, titled "Islamic Civilization: The Great Spiritual and Scientific Heritage of Transoxiana and the Horizons of Enlightenment," brought together more than 300 representatives of international organizations, the diplomatic corps, scientific institutions, cultural organizations and expert communities, in person and online.

The presentation advanced the international agenda outlined by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in his address to the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025. That agenda calls for greater recognition of Central Asia's intellectual heritage, expanded international scientific cooperation and stronger dialogue among cultures.

Participants discussed opportunities for UNESCO and the United Nations system to support collaborative projects focused on historical sources, manuscript preservation, digital technologies and broader access to scientific knowledge. The initiative seeks to connect the region's historical legacy with contemporary priorities in education, research and intercultural dialogue.

Dr. Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan and Chairman of the World Society for the Study, Preservation and Promotion of the Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan (WOSCU), presented the initiative's principal areas of focus. He emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts by researchers, libraries, museums, universities and international organizations to make the work of Central Asia's leading thinkers more accessible to scholars and future generations.

The conference was joined by heads of leading international scientific, cultural and diplomatic organizations who traveled to Paris to deliver presentations. They included Dr. Farhan Nizami, Director of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies; Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO); Prof. Dr. Mahmud Erol Kılıç, Director General of the Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA); Mr. Sali Shahsavari, Executive Director of the Al-Furqan Islamic Heritage Foundation; Mr. Robert F. Blum, President of the Diplomatic Circle of Geneva; Prof. Mario Taddei of the Design University of Milan; Dr. Salima Dalibey of the Permanent Observer Delegation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to UNESCO; and Ms. Frédéric Bressand, President of the Association for the Study of History and Art of the Timurid (France).

The initiative includes plans for an international digital platform for historical sources, the application of artificial intelligence to manuscript research, the establishment of a scientific consortium, support for early-career researchers and the use of cultural diplomacy to advance global educational and scientific projects.

The Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, which opened in Tashkent in March 2026, was also highlighted. Covering approximately 15,000 square meters, the Center presents materials spanning the region's history of science, education, spiritual thought and cultural exchange. Its collections include the Quran of Uthman, a significant monument of early Islamic written heritage listed in UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme.

The Center is intended to serve as an international scientific and educational platform, combining historical collections with contemporary research methods, digital tools and educational programming. Its mission extends beyond preservation to include knowledge exchange, academic partnerships and cultural dialogue.

Further engagement with UNESCO, United Nations bodies and scientific and cultural institutions worldwide is planned. The initiative will also support the presentation of Central Asia's heritage at international venues, including events in Paris and Geneva, with the goal of expanding cooperation globally. The presentation reaffirmed Uzbekistan's commitment to strengthening international cooperation in cultural heritage preservation and expanding the presence of Central Asia's scientific heritage in the global intellectual landscape. By combining historical knowledge, modern technologies and international expertise, the initiative aims to create new opportunities to study and share the common cultural heritage of humanity.

The event was organized by the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan to UNESCO, the National Commission of Uzbekistan for UNESCO, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in France and specialized scientific, educational and cultural organizations of Uzbekistan.

Notes to editors:
About the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan. Opened in March 2026, the Center for Islamic Civilization is located on the historical site of Shash, in the heart of Tashkent, next to the spiritual center of the capital, the Hazrati Imam complex. The three-story building measures 145 by 115 meters, and its central dome rises 65 meters.

The Center's exposition is based on the Uthman Quran, one of the oldest surviving handwritten copies of the Quran in the world. The manuscript is included in the UNESCO Memory of the World program, dedicated to the preservation and promotion of documentary heritage of world importance.

The area of the main museum exposition is about 15,000 square meters; In addition, the complex includes a research center, digitization laboratories, as well as conservation and restoration workshops. Visitors will be able to see rare artifacts of different historical periods, returned from abroad, including those purchased at international auctions and from private collectors at the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan. The exposition also presents collections of museums from around the world and the World Society for the Study, Preservation and Promotion of the Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan (WOSCU). Interactive exhibitions tell about the outstanding achievements of the Islamic Golden Age in the fields of algebra, astronomy and medicine.

Even before the official opening, the Center received wide international recognition. In 2026, it was named one of the most beautiful museums in the world by the Prix Versailles, included by Smithsonian Magazine and BBC Travel in the list of the most anticipated new museums of the year, and also listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest museum dedicated to Islamic civilization.

Website: https://iccu.uz/en