The “Symposium on Interaction and Cooperation in Education, Science, and Technology in the Turkic World” Was Held with the Support of TİKA

A symposium on “Interaction and Cooperation in Education, Science, and Technology in the Turkic World” was held by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), the Turkish Embassy in Tashkent, Istanbul University, and Samarkand State University in the courtyard of the Ulugh Beg Madrassa in Samarkand from September 22 to 23, 2021.

32 papers were presented in the 2-day symposium, which consisted of 7 sessions. The program ended with the presentation of the certificates of participation to academics who presented their papers.

In the opening speech of the symposium, Prof. Hayati Develi, Dean of the Faculty of Letters at Istanbul University, said, “These two nations have existed in the world of humanity with the words of a common language and common values for centuries. The monuments erected in the Orkhon Valley contain the advice of our common ancestors. The words of Yusuf Balasaguni became our common wisdom. The work of Ali-Shir Nava'i was the peak of our common literature. The scholars who shaped the faith and spirituality of the entire Turkic world were from Samarkand, Tashkent, and Bukhara. Now, we are seeking ways to take these partnerships to the future stronger and create new partnerships in line with the realities of today’s and tomorrow’s world. Universities should play the main role in this pursuit and organization. Knowledge and reason should be our guiding light. In this context, it should be the duty of universities to provide accurate information, to find the right and easiest way, and to show it to others. The improving and strengthening relations between the universities and cultural institutions of the two countries are promising in this regard. I believe that the steps to be taken to create a common communication language in the Turkic world should be prioritized. At our universities, we should train intellectuals who speak Turkish and Uzbek very well and can understand literary and scientific texts.”

After Develi, Prof. Mahmut Ak, Rector of Istanbul University, delivered a speech and said, “The most renowned scientists in the Turkic-Islamic world were born in this land. This city, where we host this event in partnership with Samarkand State University, is known for its historical madrassas. Indeed, the Ulugh Beg Madrassa in Samarkand, where this symposium is hosted, has preserved its historical beauty and vitality. Meanwhile, our main aim is to achieve the desired level in our relations with Uzbekistan, which is of special importance for the Turkic-Islamic world, in the fields of culture, science, and arts. The close relations and the recent positive and sincere cooperation between the two countries will make a significant contribution to both countries on the scientific level. Furthermore, the projects to be carried out by the scientific institutions and scientists of the two countries will provide mutual benefits. Ongoing scientific relations will pave the way for political, economic, and tourism collaborations.”

Olgan Bekar, the Republic of Turkey’s Ambassador to Tashkent, said, “Scientists such as Al-Biruni, Avicenna, Mirza Ulugh Beg, and Ali Qushji, who made an impact beyond their time, were born in this land and enlightened the world from here. Islamic scholars such as Imam Bukhari, Imam Maturidi, and Imam Al-Tirmidhi, who have guided believers for centuries, shone in this geography. Even though they passed on into the eternal life, they still light our way and give us strength. The hearts of these two sisterly nations have always beaten together for these two countries, despite the thousands of kilometers between them. As is known, the Republic of Turkey was the first country to recognize Uzbekistan, which celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of its independence this month, and to open the first embassy in the country and the first consulate general in Samarkand. The developments in the relations between Turkey and Uzbekistan in almost every field in this new era, which Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev called ‘Yangi O'zbekiston,’ which means the ‘New Uzbekistan,’ point to the near future.

“Turkey and Uzbekistan complement each other in many aspects. The partnership of Turkey and Uzbekistan, the two largest countries in the Turkic world in terms of population, economy, military power, and political power, is of great importance not only for the development and prosperity of the two countries, but for the entire Central Asia. There is no doubt that Uzbekistan is one of the world’s richest countries in terms of underground and aboveground resources. However, its greatest wealth is its young population and the unique struggle of state institutions and families to provide the best education to this new generation.

“I would like to emphasize once again my sincere belief that this event and similar events to be held in the future will help our countries to join hands in the field of science and to enlighten future generations.”

Prof. Rustam Khalmuradov, Rector of Samarkand State University, delivered a speech and said, “It is time to take the partnership of the largest universities of these two countries, which have common values, to the next level. It means a lot to us that the symposium is held in the Ulugh Beg Madrassa. It contributes to informing young people about the works of scholars who were born in this land, such as Mirza Ulugh Beg, which is extremely important for the future of Uzbekistan.”

The opening ceremony was attended by Salih Caner, Turkey’s Consul General to Samarkand; Prof. Ramazan Muslu, Dean of the Faculty of Theology at Istanbul University; Prof. Abdullah Kızılcık, Director of Al-Farabi Eurasia Studies Center at Istanbul University; Dr. Dildar Duman, Regional Projects Specialist in the Department of Foreign Relations and Partnerships at TİKA; and academics from Istanbul University and Samarkand State University.