ТASHKENT, November 15. /Dunyo IA/. Ozodbek Nazarbekov, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who participated in the opening ceremony of the International Congress "Spiritual Heritage and Enlightenment in Central Asia: A Common Past – A Common Future" shared his views with Dunyo Information Agency correspondent:

- Today, we are attending the opening of this important international congress at the Islamic Civilization Center. For any observer visiting the Center, it becomes immediately clear that if Central Asia unites, the region could transform into an immense and powerful force.

Central Asia is historically valued as a region that has twice demonstrated advanced achievements in science, culture, and human development. Today, building upon this historical experience, we place great hopes in the future. By revisiting this legacy, fostering unity, and exchanging experiences, the strength of cooperation within Central Asia — including with Azerbaijan — can be significantly enhanced.

During the congress, as we observed the Center, we noticed the symbolic tree — a representation of our shared roots, reflecting the unity between Central Asia and Azerbaijan. This illustrates that humanity today is in need of a third form of development — a Cultural Renaissance. There is a global demand for human culture, and the decline of civilizations can, in turn, exacerbate geopolitical instability. While economic growth may be considered a primary factor, without humanitarian values, humanity risks losing its very essence.

The Islamic Civilization Center operates precisely to address this need: by uniting cultures, respecting our ancient values, and nurturing new generations, it contributes to the development of societies. Today, as Central Asia — and particularly Uzbekistan — we address the world with a unique call: drawing strength from our ancient roots to ensure future progress, revive human civilization, and further strengthen it — these are our foremost responsibilities.