Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, following their attendance at the opening of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit (WLCAS), held as part of the Conference of Parties (COP29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in Baku, Azerbaijan.

At the outset of the meeting, held on Tuesday (12 November 2024), President Mirziyoyev commended ICESCO’s roles in developing the fields of education, science and culture in the Islamic world, stressing his continued support for the efforts aimed at enhancing cooperation between Uzbekistan’s competent parties and ICESCO.

For his part, Dr. Al-Malik expressed his thanks and appreciation to President Mirziyoyev for his keenness to enhance cooperation between ICESCO and Uzbekistan in the Organization’s areas of competence.

Moreover, ICESCO DG, stressed the Organization’s keenness to ensure the success of the celebration of Samarkand, Culture Capital in the Islamic World, in cooperation with the parties concerned in Uzbekistan, and produce a year-long celebration that suits the ancient city and its rich cultural heritage.

The meeting discussed a number of future cooperation programs, most notably the international conference on the biography of Imam al-Bukhari and his writings. The meeting also discussed the importance of forming a joint coordination committee between ICESCO and Uzbekistan.

The meeting saw the presence of Mr. Bakhtiyor Saidov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, and Mr. Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, Chairman of the State Committee for Tourism Development of Uzbekistan, as well as Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of ICESCO Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector.