Forum. Photo: CIC
An Uzbek delegation led by presidential adviser on religion and enlightenment Muzaffar Kamilov took part in the 7th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, held on October 27–28 in Baku, reports the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan.
Firdavs Abdukhalikov, the Center’s director, also attended the forum.
The event convened under the motto «Dialogue for a Shared Future in a Divided World: Building Bridges.» Attendees included Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) Salim bin Mohammed Al-Malik, High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Ángel Moratinos, as well as representatives of international bodies, diplomatic missions, and faith communities.
Delegates discussed expanding intercultural and interfaith dialogue, fostering peace and tolerance, cooperating in education, engaging youth, and leveraging artificial intelligence.
On October 28, Azerbaijan’s State Committee on Work with Religious Associations and the UN Alliance of Civilizations convened a plenary session titled «Interfaith Dialogue: A Roadmap to a Shared Future."
Addressing the session, Kamilov detailed Uzbekistan’s ongoing efforts to safeguard religious tolerance and interfaith harmony. He also underscored the deep-rooted historical and cultural ties between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, pointing to the literary masterpieces of Alisher Navoi and Nizami Ganjavi as enduring symbols of their shared cultural traditions.
The World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue is hosted in Baku with backing from the Azerbaijani government and international institutions. Participants tackle issues surrounding cross-cultural and interfaith engagement, efforts to combat discrimination, and the advancement of global cooperation.
ℹ️ The Center for Islamic Civilization was established in Uzbekistan’s capital adjacent to the Hazrati Imam (Khast-Imam) complex. Designed in the architectural tradition of medieval monuments, the landmark features four 34-meter portals and a 65-meter central dome. It houses a Quran hall, a 550-seat conference auditorium, and a museum chronicling Uzbekistan’s history from pre-Islamic times to the modern era. The CIC is designed as an international hub for studying ancestral heritage and interpreting it for the contemporary world in partnership with the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan and global research institutions.
