Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan and Russia have agreed to expand cooperation in culture, arts, creative education and cinematography and prepare a cooperation programme between the relevant ministries for 2027–2029.
The agreements were reached on 5 October in Moscow at the sixth meeting of the Subcommittee on Culture of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia. The meeting was held as part of the Days of Culture of Uzbekistan in Russia.
The delegations were led by Uzbekistan’s Culture Minister Ozodbek Nazarbekov and Russia’s Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova. Uzbekistan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Russia Botirjon Asadov also took part in the meeting.
The sides noted the consistent development of cultural and humanitarian ties and expressed readiness to increase the number of joint projects and develop new areas of cooperation.
One of the practical outcomes of the meeting was the signing of a memorandum involving Shukhrat Tokhtasimov, rector of the Academy of Choreography of Uzbekistan; Charos Djurabayeva, artistic director of Uzbekistan’s Dance Art Creative Association; and Svetlana Zakharova, rector of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography.
The document provides for expanded cooperation in education, the implementation of creative projects, experience-sharing, and cooperation between specialists and students.
Particular attention was paid to performing arts, creative education and cinematography.
The sides agreed to regularly hold Days of Culture, increase the participation of young artists and creative groups, and develop contacts between higher and professional educational institutions.
The plans include exchanges of teachers, students and specialists, as well as joint master classes, seminars and creative projects.
In cinematography, the sides agreed to organize reciprocal Days of Cinema in Uzbekistan and Russia, develop joint film production and cooperation between film and animation studios. They also plan to support industry representatives’ participation in international film festivals.
Lyubimova separately proposed holding a Russian-Uzbek film forum where producers from the two countries could present their projects, find partners and move toward practical joint work.
According to the Russian minister, the initiative could contribute to further development of the existing agreement on joint film production.
The meeting also addressed inter-museum cooperation and restoration. Lyubimova said specialists from the Tsarskoye Selo Museum Reserve visited the Bukhara region in September, where they inspected the Emir’s Palace in Kagan and the Emir’s Summer Palace in Bukhara and held consultations on research and design documentation and studies.
The sides noted the importance of cultural cooperation within the Central Asia–Russia, Commonwealth of Independent States and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation formats. They also agreed to improve the legal framework in the cultural sphere and prepare a 2027–2029 cooperation programme between the culture ministries of the two countries.
Following the meeting, Nazarbekov and Lyubimova signed a joint protocol setting out the main areas of further work.
During the visit, Uzbekistan’s culture minister also presented the Dustlik Order to Russian Federation People’s Artists Sergei Bezrukov and Andris Liepa.
As part of the Days of Culture of Uzbekistan, a gala concert titled “The Radiance of New Uzbekistan,” dedicated to the 35th anniversary of Uzbekistan’s state independence, was scheduled to take place at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow on 5 October.
Lyubimova also recalled the upcoming Khvorostovsky Arts Festival, which will be held in Krasnoyarsk from 16 to 31 October.
One of the festival’s key events will be a tour by the Alisher Navoi State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Uzbekistan.
