Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 21 April 2022, a solemn opening ceremony of the Center for the Uzbek Language and Culture was held at the Moscow State Linguistic University (MSLU). This was reported by the press service of the CIS Executive Committee.

The ceremony was attended by MSLU Rector Irina Kraeva, Deputy Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee Ilkhom Nematov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Russian Federation Botirjon Asadov, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, scientists, students, journalists.

Deputy Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee Ilkhom Nematov congratulated those present on behalf of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States, personally Chairman of the Executive Committee Sergey Nikolayevich Lebedev on the opening of the Center for the Uzbek Language and Culture at the Moscow State Linguistic University, and especially noted: “I am doubly pleased to visit you, since in 2009, being the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the Russian Federation, I twice had the pleasure of taking part in meetings with students and teachers of your university, and in the distant 80s of the last century, I studied in a neighboring building for three years.

As far as I know, 8 centers of languages and cultures of the CIS countries have been created and are functioning at the university, in which Azerbaijani, Armenian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Moldovan, Tajik, Uzbek and Ukrainian languages are studied, as well as Russian as a foreign language.

Your University, in accordance with the Decision of the Council of Heads of Government of November 30, 2000, is the base organization for the languages and culture of the CIS states.

I would like to note with great satisfaction that your university, as a basic organization, makes a great contribution to the training of bachelors and masters in eight languages of the Commonwealth countries. He does a lot of work in publishing educational and methodological materials, books and other necessary manuals for teachers and students of the university.

I would like to emphasize that the Executive Committee and its Chairman Sergei Nikolayevich Lebedev attach great importance to improving the efficiency of the base organizations in the implementation of topical projects to deepen integration processes within our Commonwealth.

In this regard, I believe it is possible to make some proposals aimed at intensifying the work of the base organization:

firstly, the consistent development of distance learning and digital content for the implementation of educational programs at various levels;

secondly, it is necessary to develop the professional mobility of teachers, graduate students, undergraduates and bachelors;

thirdly, expansion of interaction with similar basic organizations at universities of the CIS countries for the implementation of joint educational programs.

In this regard, an example of imitation is the cooperation of Uzbekistan in the field of education with the CIS countries, especially with the Russian Federation.

Today, about 5 thousand foreign students study in Uzbekistan, 65% of which are students from the CIS countries. 

It should be noted that in recent years the Republic of Uzbekistan has noticeably stepped up its participation in the integration processes within the Commonwealth.

In a short period of time, Uzbekistan joined more than 20 industry councils and 35 previously signed multilateral documents of the CIS, resumed participation in the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth.

In 2020, under the chairmanship of Uzbekistan, program documents were adopted aimed at further deepening cooperation within the CIS.

Universities of Uzbekistan take an active part in international scientific conferences and forums held by the base organization at the sites of the Commonwealth countries.

In this regard, it is very logical and timely to open the Center for the Uzbek Language and Culture at MSLU.

I am sure that the activities of the Center will make it possible to get acquainted with the achievements of large-scale reforms carried out in all spheres of the country's life under the leadership of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, as well as with the centuries-old history and national traditions of the Uzbek people, who made a significant contribution to the spiritual treasury of civilization and gave the world outstanding scientists, philosophers, writers, poets and architects.

In a word, language is a road map of culture and knowledge of the languages of other people makes it possible to learn their stories, customs, culture, traditions and customs. As the 18th century thinker Voltaire said, “Who knows many languages, he has many keys to one lock”, “One language leads us to the corridor of life. Two languages open all the doors along the way.”

As part of the event, the Uzbek side presented the books “Anthology of Uzbek Poetry” and “Manuscripts of A. Navoi (on the 580th anniversary of the great poet)” published in Russia, and about 50 books in Uzbek were presented in order to replenish the library fund of the Center being opened.