Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Aibek Sydykov, Vice Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan, on Thursday, 5 November 2026, in the Republic of Kazakhstan, to discuss arrangements for celebrating Turkistan as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic World 2027 and strengthening cooperation in culture, education, science, and heritage protection. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Second International Conference on Al-Farabi and His Contributions Throughout Human History, which ICESCO is holding on Friday, 6 November 2026, under the theme “Philosophy, Virtue, and the Future”.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Culture and Information for its ongoing support for ICESCO’s initiatives and programs, commending the strong partnership between the Organization and the Republic of Kazakhstan. He also affirmed the Organization’s willingness to cooperate in implementing activities to celebrate Turkistan as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic World for 2027, as well as to strengthen cooperation in the fields of heritage preservation, education, culture, and scientific development.

For his part, Mr. Sydykov commended ICESCO’s efforts to support its Member States, underscoring the importance of joint cooperation in promoting Kazakh cultural heritage and developing partnerships with countries across the Islamic world.

The two sides discussed arrangements for a program of cultural activities, including artistic performances, exhibitions of traditional crafts, and youth initiatives involving various ICESCO Member States, alongside efforts to strengthen the creative economy and sustainable cultural tourism.

Both sides welcomed the progress made in preparing the joint action plan and its launch at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat in December 2026. They also underscored the importance of close cooperation to ensure the implementation of activities with a tangible cultural impact in Turkistan, Kazakhstan, and the participating ICESCO Member States, and to showcase the city’s historical and civilizational heritage and its significance in the Islamic world.

The meeting also addressed arrangements for Kazakhstan’s upcoming hosting of the 14th Session of ICESCO’s Heritage Committee in the Islamic World in February 2027. The two sides discussed Kazakhstan’s submission of ten heritage nomination files to the Committee, with a view to their inclusion on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage List, with the aim of showcasing Kazakhstan’s cultural heritage and its efforts to preserve it, and raising its international profile.