Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Ms. Leyla Fazleeva, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation, and Mr. Timur Suleymanov, Aide to the Rais of the Republic and Head of All-Russian Public-State Movement of Children and Youth in the Republic of Tatarstan “Movement of the First,” to discuss ways and mechanisms of cooperation between the Organization and Tatarstan in the areas of youth capacity building and heritage preservation. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 5th edition of the “Knowledge Youth Forum,” which is being hosted for the second time at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, Morocco, on 7-8 September.

During the meeting, held on 7 September 2026, at ICESCO Headquarters, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the Organization’s vision and strategic plan, highlighting its efforts in recent years to strengthen the fields of education, science and culture and support its Member States in achieving comprehensive development goals and building sustainable societies. He emphasized the importance of developing partnerships with organizations, institutions, universities and research centers across the Islamic world to exchange expertise and best practices in areas of shared interest.

For her part, Ms. Fazleeva commended the strong partnership between ICESCO and Tatarstan, which has resulted in several joint activities over the past five years. She also praised the Organization’s contributions to bridging communication among the countries of the Islamic world and preparing youth for future challenges by honing their skills in various fields.

The two sides agreed to cooperate during the coming period to promote the culture and rich heritage of Central Asia and train youth in the fields of modern technology. The meeting was attended from ICESCO by Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Dr. Kuanysh Yergaliyev, Head of the Science and Environment Sector.