The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing cooperation in the fields of cultural heritage preservation and intercultural dialogue on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at the Foundation’s headquarters in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, and Ms. Aktoty Raimkulova, President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, in the presence of Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of ICESCO’s Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, Dr. Abdulhakeem AlSenan, Director of ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku, and a group of the Foundation’s leaders.

Following the signing ceremony, Dr. AlMalik affirmed ICESCO’s interest in building international partnerships to foster cultural understanding, noting that cooperation between the two parties will open broad horizons for joint projects focusing on creativity and cultural exchange.

For her part, Ms. Raimkulova emphasized that the memorandum constitutes a strong framework for joint action to preserve the region’s rich cultural heritage, noting the Foundation’s commitment to cooperating with ICESCO to implement innovative programs that promote awareness of heritage and support scientific research.

The MoU provides for the launch of joint initiatives that contribute to the protection of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, the promotion of cultural education, and the strengthening of ties between ICESCO Member States and Turkic States.