Mikhail Mishustin and prime ministers of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have taken part in the plenary session titled The Interaction of Cultures: Preserving Heritage and Global Dialogue in the Modern World.
Group photo of the heads of delegations attending the International Conference on Strengthening Cultural Ties and Developing Creative Industries. From left: Prime Minister of Belarus Alexander Turchin, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan – Chief of Staff of the Presidential Office Adylbek Kasymaliev, Mikhail Mishustin, Prime Minister of Tajikistan Kokhir Rasulzoda, Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov, and Minister of Education of Turkmenistan Jumamyrat Gurbangeldiev
Mikhail Mishustin, Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov and Prime Minister of Belarus Alexander Turchin at the International Conference on Strengthening Cultural Ties and Developing Creative Industries
Mikhail Mishustin and Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov at the International Conference on Strengthening Cultural Ties and Developing Creative Industries
Mikhail Mishustin, Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov and Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov at the International Conference on Strengthening Cultural Ties and Developing Creative Industries
Mikhail Mishustin at the International Conference on Strengthening Cultural Ties and Developing Creative Industries
Mikhail Mishustin delivering his remarks at the International Conference on Strengthening Cultural Ties and Developing Creative Industries
Mikhail Mishustin delivering his remarks at the International Conference on Strengthening Cultural Ties and Developing Creative Industries
Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan – Head of the Presidential Administration Adylbek Kasymaliev speaks at the International Conference on Strengthening Cultural Ties and Developing Creative Industries
Prime Minister of Tajikistan Kokhir Rasulzoda speaks at the International Conference on Strengthening Cultural Ties and Developing Creative Industries
Remarks by Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov at the International Conference on Strengthening Cultural Ties and Developing Creative Industries
Mikhail Mishustin and Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov at the International Conference on Strengthening Cultural Ties and Developing Creative Industries
Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan - Chief of Staff of the Presidential Office of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliyev, Mikhail Mishustin and Prime Minister of Tajikistan Kokhir Rasulzoda after the International Conference on Strengthening Cultural Ties and Developing Creative and Industries at Konstantinovsky Palace in Strelna
Prime Minister of Belarus Alexander Turchin, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov, Mikhail Mishustin, Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan – Chief of Staff of the Presidential Office of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliyev, and Prime Minister of Tajikistan Kokhir Rasulzoda after the International Conference on Strengthening Cultural Ties and Developing Creative and Industries at Konstantinovsky Palace in Strelna
Group photo of the heads of delegations attending the International Conference on Strengthening Cultural Ties and Developing Creative Industries. From left: Prime Minister of Belarus Alexander Turchin, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan – Chief of Staff of the Presidential Office Adylbek Kasymaliev, Mikhail Mishustin, Prime Minister of Tajikistan Kokhir Rasulzoda, Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov, and Minister of Education of Turkmenistan Jumamyrat Gurbangeldiev
Prime Minister of Belarus Alexander Turchin’s remarks
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov’s remarks
Remarks by Prime Minister of Tajikistan Kokhir Rasulzoda
Remarks by Prime
Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov
Remarks by Minister of Education of Turkmenistan Jumamyrat Gurbangeldiyev
The International Conference on Strengthening Cultural Ties and Developing Creative Industries is taking place in St Petersburg on 18 June.
The agenda for the plenary session, The Interaction of Cultures: Preserving Heritage and Global Dialogue in the Modern World, provides for discussing international cooperation in its current state and its future with a focus on preserving historical and cultural heritage, strengthening humanitarian ties, promoting interstate dialogue and creating up-to-date cooperation mechanisms in a changing international environment.
The conference will also include a panel discussion titled Intercultural Dialogue: Traditions, New Meanings and Cooperation Formats. It will explore matters dealing with promoting cultural cooperation as one of the key tracks in international humanitarian cooperation with a focus on the latest trends and prospects for cooperation in film production, theatre art, library and museum operations, musical culture, as well as creative education. Matters dealing with preserving the shared cultural heritage, forging stronger professional and institutional ties, supporting joint projects, expanding cultural exchanges and devising new cooperation formats in keeping with the aspirations of the people will also be high on the agenda. In terms of substance, this section will explore culture not only as a traditional attribute of state-to-state relations, but also as a major asset for building a shared humanitarian space based on respecting cultural diversity and shared historical ties.
Another panel discussion, titled Creative Industries on the International Cooperation Agenda, will offer experts an opportunity to discuss ways of working together to build a single cultural and economic space that would be competitive at an international level. Participants will discuss matters dealing with moving from cultural exchanges to joint business ventures, combining talent, traditions and technology from various countries for initiating joint projects with the view to exporting them. The agenda also covers support mechanisms for the most effective undertakings in terms of developing creative start-ups and scaling best practices at the intestate level, as well as the way the creative industry can have an impact on preserving the cultural code in today’s digital world.
Mikhail Mishustin: Colleagues and friends,
I am delighted to welcome you all to Russia and to St Petersburg, our Northern capital and one of its largest cultural centres. It is precisely for this reason that the city was chosen as the venue for the International Conference on Strengthening Cultural Ties and Developing Creative Industries.
This subject is of paramount importance for all our states. As President Vladimir Putin has emphasised, we have inherited a truly unique civilisational fusion of traditions and customs, languages and literature, art and folk art. Naturally, our task is to preserve this shared multinational heritage to the greatest possible extent and to enrich it with new substance.
We are bound together by centuries of shared history. We meticulously preserve and defend the truth about the heroic feat of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War. We honour the heroism and courage of our ancestors, who fought shoulder to shoulder against the Nazi invaders.
Together, we are creating conditions to expand direct contacts between our citizens, affording them greater opportunities to get to know their closest neighbours and friends better, and to familiarise themselves with their traditions, art, and culture.
Cross-cultural days of culture, specialised forums, and congresses are held on a regular basis. A wide range of interesting events take place, including competitions and festivals. New initiatives are constantly being advanced. For example, our friends from Uzbekistan have proposed launching a creative tourism corridor project from Samarkand to St Petersburg. Just the other day, we spoke with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who put forward this idea here, in St Petersburg, at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. This entails the organisation of joint cultural, gastronomic, and musical events.
Today’s conference is, without a doubt, an excellent opportunity to discuss this initiative. Such joint initiatives help to more fully unlock the shared potential of our national cultures. They contribute to strengthening mutual understanding and give a tangible impetus to our multifaceted collaboration. This is particularly important, as investments in the cultural sphere have a very significant multiplier effect.
Our states are home to millions of talented, versatile, and creatively gifted citizens. It is they who are shaping new growth points – the creative industries, where the main driving force is not resources but human capital, skill, and unconventional ideas. The products they create not only possess material value but also help to preserve and transmit our national identity and our cultural and civilisational code, not only within our respective countries but also abroad.
Music, cinema, books, digital services, architectural projects, traditional cuisine, designer clothing, and handicrafts make a state recognisable on the world stage. Such sectors provide an additional impetus to the economy, as Mikhail Shvydkoy noted.
In Russia, the contribution of the creative sectors to gross domestic product is steadily increasing. In particular, it reached 4.2 percent last year. President Vladimir Putin, by Executive Order on national goals, instructed that this indicator be increased. The Government is systematically working to address this task to ensure that, by the end of the decade, it reaches 6 percent.
We are developing both the necessary legal framework and a comprehensive support infrastructure. Without a doubt, we are ready to share this experience with our friends and partners.
We fully understand that each of our states is unique and develops its own model of the creative economy in its own way.
In Russia, for example, its drivers are software, advertising, gastronomy, the performing arts, architecture, and urban studies. In other countries, the highest growth rates are seen in cinema, crafts, and cultural heritage.
At the same time, the creative industries have, of course, much in common.
First, there is a high concentration of such enterprises in large cities. It is there that teams, educational centres, and markets are formed. It is important that creative businesses develop not only in capitals but also in small communities. Here, joint projects and initiatives are especially in demand, primarily at the inter-regional level.
Second, the sector’s foundation consists of small companies and individual entrepreneurs, handicraft workshops, and emerging technology teams, which means they need additional assistance and support from the state to access export markets, as well as simplified administrative and tax regimes. We can provide this together.
Third, the creative industries, like all others, are very actively influenced by the introduction of the most modern innovations, technologies, electronic services, and solutions based on artificial intelligence. This, too, needs to be discussed in detail.
Naturally, this provides entrepreneurs with broader opportunities. For instance, it allows them to gain access to wider audiences and to increase brand recognition. New business models are also emerging in culture, media, and education. At the same time, issues of copyright protection are becoming more pressing. Therefore, it is necessary to establish an exchange of experience on such topics and to define, within our shared space, common approaches to regulating digital platforms and to the use of artificial intelligence technologies specifically in the creative sphere.
We propose to address these tasks together.
Colleagues and friends,
The development of the creative economy in our states helps to create new jobs, promotes the self-fulfilment of young people, increases the output of in-demand products and unique goods and, as a result, enhances each state’s competitiveness on a global level. This is crucial for preserving cultural heritage.
We have every opportunity to become prominent centres for the creative industries in Eurasia. The main thing is to act in concert, drawing on our shared values and traditions. This aspiration, in my view, is evident, which means we will succeed.
I wish all participants of the conference every success.
Mikhail Shvydkoi (moderator): Thank you, Mr Mishustin. May I ask one question?
I would like to address it to all the speakers. All of us have unexpectedly found ourselves in the 21st century. The 20th century that seemed completely modern has unexpectedly turned into a bygone age for all of us.
What do you personally think about the most important and most sensitive aspect of the legacy of the second half of the 20th century? Let us start from the moment when you were born and started growing and eventually became Prime Minister. What is the 20th century in art and culture to you?
Mikhail Mishustin: Speaking of art, I was very fond of traditional theatrical performances in school. We attended ballets and operas together. We felt a bit shy because, just like today, new forms of art fascinated us. I continue to appreciate the tradition of Russian theatrical and ballet school. And I am trying to pass it on to my children, young people and the new generation. We are trying to arouse their interest.
Regarding education, no one can abolish and replace fundamental Soviet-era education. Moreover, we are reverting to the foundations laid by our scientists and those who created a wonderful education school. I also consider engineering to be a creative industry because an engineer is always a creator, he always conceives something, and creation is a very complicate process.
I therefore believe that traditions are the foundation to rely upon, and they will certainly help deal with new aspects. It appears that creative industries should rely on our traditions.
Mikhail Shvydkoi: Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Turchin.
Alexander Turchin: Good afternoon, colleagues,
I would like to start by thanking our friends from Russia for picking an engaging theme for this conference which, most importantly, holds much promise for our future.
The creativity-driven economy has become a major topic of discussion in recent years. Yet the topic is far from new. There’s a popular joke that Malevich’s Black Square was not particularly difficult to paint, but selling it was the real art.
Today, we clearly see that the creativity-driven industries constitute a fully-fledged economic sector which is capable of generating high added value, creating new jobs, and strengthening the country’s global competitiveness. The product of human capital coupled with intellect rather than raw materials are the main commodity within this economic system. It’s about an idea that can be monetised and replicated on a larger scaled. It’s about the creative content.
This is the part where we get back to the basic truths. Our President always makes it clear that we do not possess vast natural resources, and people are the principal wealth of Belarus. For the Republic of Belarus, developing creativity-driven industries is an important way to boost innovation, an opportunity to diversify the economy and enhance its competitiveness. That is why we are now focusing on expanding tourism and creative activities, strengthening the economic dimension of the cultural sphere, and creating sector-specific digital platforms.
In this context, large-scale international projects with global recognition have a special role to play. The Slavianski Bazaar International Arts Festival in Vitebsk is one of the Commonwealth’s leading cultural and musical venues. As a symbol of cultural dialogue, every year it brings together performers, artists and theatre companies from around the world.
The festival will be held for the 35th time this July. Over this time, it became a profitable project that gave a boost to a number of related industries. Through our own experience, we have become convinced that digitalising processes and setting commercial goals in the cultural sphere strengthen the creative component, encourage competition for consumers, audiences and visitors, and open up new opportunities.
The world has entered an era in which control over intellectual property has become more important than control over conventional resources, and often more lucrative. According to UN estimates, creative goods and services account for over 3 percent of global GDP with annual sales in excess of US$2 trillion. Moreover, the creativity-driven economy’s growth rate consistently outpaces the global average for other sectors.
The contribution of the creativity-driven industries to Belarus’s GDP amounted to 5 percent in 2025 which is above the global average and reflects a shift in the structure of the Belarusian economy towards knowledge-based economy, innovation, and intangible assets. According to UNCTAD, Belarus’s exports of creative services amounted to US$1 billion in 2024. In relative terms, Belarus ranks among the top three CIS countries, with creative services accounting for more than 10 percent of total services exports. Services exports constitute the prevailing share — over 65 percent — of the republic’s total exports of creative services.
It is particularly important that this sector employs a higher proportion of young people aged 15 to 29 compared to other economic sectors.
Overall, it should be noted that the creativity-driven industries help address a broad range of top-priority national objectives. They create flexible employment opportunities, which are particularly popular with women with young children, persons with disabilities, and residents of small urban areas. Interestingly, the greatest contribution from women can be observed in the creativity-driven sectors. It is symbolic that 2026 has been declared Year of the Belarusian Woman at President Lukashenko’s initiative. In May, Minsk hosted the Union State Women Entrepreneurs Forum, which became another platform for developing promising joint projects, including in areas that are directly related to today’s theme of discussion.
The creativity-driven industries generate a multiplier effect across the economy, stimulate innovation, create new markets and services, attract investment, and unlock the potential of small urban and rural areas.
The direct effect can be seen in increased output of goods, projects and services, which generate budget revenue, increase wages, and improve living standards. Indirectly, the creativity-driven industries stimulate growth in related sectors throughout the value chains.
Each country has an engine that drives its creativity-driven economy. In Belarus, that locomotive is the IT sector. For decades, Belarusians have demonstrated that in the absence of extensive natural resources and large mineral deposits, an idea alone can be enough to create something from nothing. Creative potential is inexhaustible. Today, the traditional image of Belarus as a manufacturer of tractors, heavy-duty lorries, and food has been complemented by its reputation as a leader in the IT sector, an economy with advanced logistics, high-quality healthcare, and a destination attracting millions of tourists.
The Hi-Tech Park established by the presidential decision in 2005 has, two decades into its existence, become recognised as a leading IT cluster in Central and Eastern Europe. Today, it generates almost 3 percent of Belarus’s GDP and offers some of the most favourable conditions for launching, operating and expanding high-tech businesses.
The second major driver includes tourism and hospitality industry. A state-level target has been set to increase tourism’s contribution to national GDP to 4.5 percent by 2030.
To achieve this, a state programme that focuses on creating modern tourism products and services has been adopted. Agro-ecotourism holds a lot of promise. It serves as a tool for promoting cultural and active lifestyles, fostering a positive perception of rural life, and encouraging de-urbanisation.
Belarus is systematically expanding the range of services offered by agro-ecotourism estates in order to showcase local culture and nature, facilitate participation in traditional calendar and ritual festivals, provide opportunities to sample national food, and offer hands-on exposure to history, traditions, and crafts.
Particular attention should be given to syncing Belarus’ and Russia’s efforts to promote cross-border tourism, including the implementation of commercial investment projects in hotels and the modernisation of the material and technical infrastructure of health resorts and spas.
We are developing system-wide support mechanisms for micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, which account for approximately 80 percent of all creativity-driven businesses.
The provision of tax and financial incentives, including benefits for cultural organisations, support for traditional crafts, and subsidies for the film industry is an important part of state support.
The draft main guidelines for implementing the Union State Treaty for 2027–2029 envisage three key areas.
First, it’s about bringing closer the approaches to classification of the creativity-driven industries and assessment of their economic contribution. Early in 2026, Belarus approved a list of aggregated categories of creativity-driven industries. Russian and Belarusian methodologies are broadly similar and rely on UNCTAD approaches. Further harmonising them will improve the public policy’s effectiveness.
Second, the exchange of experience in regulating the creativity-driven economy.
Third, the implementation of joint cultural and tourism projects.
Meaningful initiatives seeking to strengthen cultural ties are being implemented within the CIS. These include an agreement on joint film production where film projects will be pursued independently of the Western industry, and on the Nesvizh National Historical and Cultural Reserve as the base organisation for museum affairs.
We are all making the first steps on the path towards developing the creativity-driven economy. This is why all CIS countries jointly discussing ways to promote creativity-driven industries and searching for unorthodox approaches are of strategic importance for economic modernisation and the strengthening of humanitarian ties throughout the region.
To promote mutually beneficial cooperation in the creativity-driven industries, the CIS countries should focus on creating a common digital market, jointly producing content, and protecting intellectual property.
Our collective efforts will expand the market enabling local projects to reach a shared audience of over 250 million people and reduce costs by sharing expenses associated with the production of graphics, software and films, while also promoting the CIS countries’ unique cultural code internationally.
The Commonwealth can serve as an effective platform for exchanging best practices in the creativity-driven industries.
The creativity-driven economy is not just a new economic sector. It represents transformation of the very model of competitiveness on a global scale. The Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation, and all Commonwealth countries possess unique advantages in the form of shared history, cultural traditions, highly educated workforce, and technological expertise as well as, most importantly, the political will to be partners. I am confident that by joining our efforts we will create a competitive creativity-driven sector capable of becoming one of the principal drivers of growth and sustainable development of our countries.
Mikhail Shvydkoi: Thank you, Mr Turchin. May I ask you just one question? Russians frequently take advantage of the amazing opportunities offered by agrotourism in Belarus. Does local legislation help the development of creative industries or is everything regulated only by republican laws?
Alexander Turchin: Local legislation certainly handles tasks that need to be addressed locally. This is unmistakable, but I would like to stress: our joint projects with the Russian Federation focus specifically on transborder tourism. The decisions adopted at the top level of our countries – in particular, the latest decision on border traffic – they obviously have positive effects.
The more decisions of similar kind we can take, the larger our mutual tourist traffic will become. Because, without a doubt, both the Russian Federation with its richest history and the Republic of Belarus have things to show each other. Annual increase in tourist traffic these days indicate that Russian and Belarusian citizens are increasingly interested in the history, culture and customs of one another. I am confident that these positive trends will only grow.
Mikhail Shvydkoi: Thank you very much, Mr Turchin. And thank you to our Belarusian colleagues for the truly immense opportunities that open up through cooperation.
You all know that quite interesting developments are happening in Kazakhstan, its society and official bodies are undergoing a big transformation. A great deal of attention is paid to the changes in education and science.
I must say that the number of new branches of Russian universities opening in Kazakhstan is very impressive, as is the development of Kazakh education itself. Of course, these developments are impacting the evolution of the creative industries in this brotherly country. I would like to pass the floor to Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov.
Olzhas Bektenov: Ladies and gentlemen, colleagues.
First of all, allow me to express my sincere gratitude to the Government of the Russian Federation and to you personally, Mr Shvydkoi, for the excellent organisation of this conference and associated events.
It is symbolic that today’s event is taking place in St Petersburg, one of the world’s largest centres of culture, art and spiritual heritage.
With direct support and involvement of presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Vladimir Putin, and all the leaders of our countries, the development of and cooperation in creative industries and cultural links remain among the most meaningful and relevant items on the agenda.
As you probably know, last March, following a national referendum in Kazakhstan, the new constitution of the republic was adopted, and it will take effect on July 1. This new basic law is dedicated to strengthening Kazakhstan’s statehood and building a just, progressive and strong Kazakhstan on the principles of law and order. I want to note that the succession of the thousand-year-old history of the Great Steppe has been constitutionalised for the first time.
An international symposium on studying the model of the Golden Horde’s steppe civilisation was another significant event. This symposium, held in Astana in May, was attended by historians and culture studies scholars from over 20 countries.
In addition, the new Constitution guarantees the protection of intellectual and creative property. This foundation ensures a dynamic development of the creative industry in Kazakhstan, including the emergence of new markets, new jobs, and growing opportunities for exporting the national creative product.
At this stage, Kazakhstan’s creative industry encompasses over 40 types of activities and employs 150,000 people. The creative sector’s gross value added has grown by over 25 percent last year, approaching $3 billion.
We can see considerable progress in filmmaking, music, design, the game industry and digital content.
Kazakhstan’s creative products are strengthening our export potential. Our films, TV series and musical and digital content are confidently emerging in foreign markets. They not only fit modern trends but also introduce international audiences to the rich cultural heritage of our country.
The rise of our creative industry has been confirmed by its international rankings. Kazakhstan is steadily improving its standing in the World Intellectual Property Organisation, including its Global Innovation Index. In 2025, our country moved up 32 spots in Creative Outputs.
Of particular importance in this context is the initiative for establishing a CIS Creative Industries Association advanced by Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. This format will create conditions for implementing joint projects, exchanging experience and promoting creative products.
Kazakhstan is consistently strengthening the infrastructure of the creative sector and has developed the necessary legislation. Last year, we established a Creative Industries Development Fund, which helps writers, creative teams and entrepreneurs develop competitive products, including those with a high export potential.
Regional creative hubs established in all regions of Kazakhstan are working to create conditions for realising the creative potential of young people and supporting business initiatives. Artificial intelligence is apparently becoming a key element in the development of all economic sectors. That is why the President of Kazakhstan declared 2026 the Year of Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence.
Our task is to carry out total digitalisation across all aspects of public life. We can see that AI is radically changing our approaches to the creation of content, expanding creative opportunities, and shaping new channels for promoting cultural products. A vivid example is the Kazakhstani company Higgsfield, a global leader in professional AI video generation.
The experience of Kazakhstan’s “digital unicorn” shows that there is a high demand for the talent and competencies of our compatriots, who are setting new trends in technological markets. Incidentally, the video you can see on the screen was generated with the help of Higgsfield’s technologies.
On the other hand, the rapid development of AI is facing us with major challenges when it comes to the preservation of cultural identity, copyright protection, technology ethics and equal access to new instruments. Solutions to these issues call for coordinating our approaches and maintaining regular dialogue.
That is why it is especially important for the CIS countries to cooperate in the spheres of couture, creative industries and new technologies.
At the same time, Kazakhstan is implementing a large-scale programme of digitalising our cultural heritage.
For example, a database of digital copies is being created to preserve unique historical monuments for future generations. This national platform based on precision LiDAR scanning and 3D archiving is being used to create the digital copies of historical and cultural landmark of not only national but also international significance. These include landmarks on the UNESCO World Heritage List, such as the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the Tamgaly petroglyphs, the Mangystau underground mosques, and other archaeological sites. The E-museum platform comprising 300 museums is evolving in the same direction, with tens of thousands of museum items added to the digital catalogue.
We are also continuing the work to restore the best films of Kazakh cinema. In recent years, 43 films from the last century have been digitalised. As we can see, digitalisation is expanding access to our cultural and historical heritage, opening up new interactive formats for millions of people, regardless of borders.
I would like to highlight one of the most significant upcoming events in the creative industries – the international Games of the Future tournament, which will take place in Astana from 29 July to 9 August this year. We expect over 900 athletes from 50 countries to take part in this phygital competition, which blends sport, technology, and the digital environment. I take this opportunity to extend an open invitation to everyone to attend this unique event.
At the same time, alongside the expanding digital space, more traditional and long-established forms of cultural cooperation continue to develop steadily. In this regard, I would like to acknowledge the special role of the Commonwealth of Independent States in advancing cultural and humanitarian ties. Exhibitions, festivals, touring exchanges, and other events aimed at strengthening intercultural dialogue are held regularly across the Commonwealth countries.
The creative community makes an invaluable contribution to each of these events. It is thanks to their efforts that culture takes on new forms, reaches broader audiences, and becomes an integral part of the modern economy. Ladies and gentlemen, the synergy between traditional culture, creative industries, and cutting-edge information technologies is opening up exciting new opportunities for cooperation today.
I would also like to take this opportunity to once again thank Mr Mishustin and the Russian side for its continued commitment to advancing humanitarian cooperation and for creating favourable conditions for expanding our cultural contacts.
I wish all conference participants a productive session, engaging discussions, and many fruitful new collaborations.
Thank you for your attention.
Mikhail Shvydkoy: Thank you very much. If I may, one question. In your speech, you mentioned the President of Kazakhstan’s initiative to establish a Creative Industries Association within the CIS. What kind of roadmap do you envision? What needs to be done to ensure this association becomes fully operational?
Olzhas Bektenov: I believe our meeting today is, in itself, a contribution to the advancement of the cooperation that has historically taken root in our region. We are culturally and historically close – our countries and citizens share deep ties. Yesterday, we also discussed how the Russian language facilitates our work together. In other words, we speak the same language – and that is a tremendous advantage.
When it comes to developing creative industries, the primary drive must come from business. The role of governments is to create the conditions in which our entrepreneurs – those willing and ready to work in the creative sector – encounter no unnecessary obstacles or barriers.
We are fully committed to creating such opportunities. I believe we could also explore co- financing certain projects, with the involvement of businesses, government agencies, or representatives of countries across our region.
We have good experience with this kind of project-based cooperation in the industrial sector within the Eurasian Economic Union. So why not develop similar mechanisms that could be extended to creative industries? I am thinking here of preferential lending and other support measures – without which, even the best idea would struggle to get off the ground.
My colleagues and I will certainly be working on this.
Mikhail Shvydkoi: Thank you very much, Mr Bektenov. I believe that many of the cultural figures present here heard the words “preferential lending” and immediately felt that attending today’s conference was well worth it. A highly significant event is currently taking place in my home country, Kyrgyzstan. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Issyk-Kul Forum, founded in 1986 by Chinghiz Aitmatov, the great son of the Kyrgyz people, an outstanding Soviet writer, whose legacy continues to inspire us all.
In a sense, today’s distinguished gathering in St Petersburg serves as a fitting counterpart to the discussions taking place in Bishkek. It is my pleasure to invite Mr Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic and Head of the Presidential Administration, to take the floor.
Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan – Head of the Presidential Administration Adylbek Kasymaliev speaks at the International Conference on Strengthening Cultural Ties and Developing Creative Industries
Adylbek Kasymaliev: Thank you. Esteemed Mr Mishustin, esteemed heads of government, participants and guests of the conference,
Allow me, first of all, to join my colleagues in expressing, on behalf of the Kyrgyz delegation, our sincere gratitude to Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mr Mishustin for the excellent organisation of today’s event and for the warm hospitality extended to us.
Today, issues of cultural cooperation and the advancement of creative industries extend well beyond the humanitarian sphere. They have become an important factor in strengthening national identity, fostering human capital, and enhancing the competitiveness of our countries.
The public policy pursued by our country has evolved into a synergistic model in which personal spiritual development serves as the foundation, large-scale investment in infrastructure provides the structural framework, and the creative economy acts as the engine of innovation and growth. In my remarks today, I would like to focus on this model of reform, which is rooted in our key humanitarian initiatives.
Colleagues,
The importance of the topic we are discussing today can hardly be overstated.
The Eurasian region is currently undergoing a period of profound transformation. Traditional economic models are being reshaped, and established supply chains are evolving. Yet throughout these changes, the deep cultural ties that have connected our peoples for decades remain a strong and enduring bridge between our nations. At the same time, in the 21st century, preserving these ties alone is no longer sufficient. We must transform them into a platform for innovation.
Creative industries are precisely the tool that transforms our rich cultural heritage into a sector of its own in the real economy with the potential for job creation, primarily for young people. It also helps create these high-technology exports. The fact that we are facing a global digital expansion today demonstrates the relevance of this conference.
Today, there must be a special emphasis on combining our creative and intellectual resources for offering relevant cultural products that would succeed in attracting young people, strengthening cultural ties and ensuring continuity in terms of our shared spiritual and moral values. Developing the creative sector across the CIS has gone beyond making something. It has become a matter of our humanitarian security and intellectual sovereignty.
Let me illustrate for you the way Kyrgyzstan embarked on this journey. The 2021 Presidential Executive Order on Spiritual and Moral Development and Physical Fitness served as a strategic benchmark by setting forth the state’s commitment to place people, their inner, spiritual world and values, at the centre.
Kyrgyzstan is committed to ensuring that people in Kyrgyzstan become citizens who adhere to high moral standards, have a good level of education and know their history, while also respecting the traditions, family values and beliefs of other nations, respecting inter-ethnic relations, speaking foreign languages and being resilient to external and internal challenges.
The subsequent government decisions, including steps to revive the nomad philosophy as part of the Kyrgyz Kochu nomadic tradition, and following the Kyrgyz Jarany (Kyrgyz citizen) concept paved the way for building a robust ideological carcass.
We have a deep conviction that developing creative industries is impossible without a solid spiritual foundation. At the same time, we have completely dismantled and rejected the stereotype consisting of funding cultural initiatives only after all other sectors receive their allocations. Over the past three years, state funding in this domain has gradually increased from $32 million to $105 million, which means that this funding more than tripled. Cultural workers benefited from a 100 percent increase in their wages.
In this context, a major event, the Issyk-Kul Forum, is taking place in our country on 18–21 June. Its mission consists of strengthening cultural ties. This is a platform for enabling intellectuals from around the world to engage in an open dialogue. It has already been mentioned during this session that it was Chinghiz Aitmatov who established this forum 40 years ago, in 1986.
The Issyk-Kul Forum is set to once again emerge as Eurasia’s main intellectual centre as we approach Chinghiz Aitmatov’s centenary. In addition to this, we are currently entering the final stage for preparing the 6th World Nomad Games in the Kyrgyz Republic on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, our pearl and our natural treasure. Recognised by the UN and UNESCO, the World Nomad Games is a unique celebration of ethnic sports and culture. This brand comes from the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul and seeks to revive the philosophy of a nomad civilisation.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to invite everyone to take part in this major spectacular event.
As you can see, we have major cultural events ahead of us. In addition, we are preparing to mark the 35th anniversary of the CIS, which is a major milestone for upgrading and revising our educational, scientific and cultural cooperation across the board.
Kyrgyzstan is making an active contribution to the celebrations marking the anniversary of the Commonwealth by hosting a number of events on its territory. For example, on 9–10 June, Bishkek hosted a Forum of Creative and Scientific Intellectuals of the CIS member states, bringing together leading representatives of the cultural, scientific, and educational communities.
We are also united by two important upcoming anniversaries: the centenary of Chinghiz Aitmatov and the bicentenary of Leo Tolstoy.
Our task is to reinterpret the legacy of these great writers within the framework of the CIS institutions, translating their humanistic ideas into the language of contemporary creative industries and making them understandable and accessible to a new digital generation across the Commonwealth.
The adoption of the Law on the Creative Industries Park in 2022 was a natural continuation of our efforts to invest in culture and promote internationally recognised creative brands. The park’s residents benefit from a favourable tax regime: they pay a unified tax of just one percent of revenue, while personal income tax for employees is fixed at five percent. Social security contributions have also been streamlined and currently amount to 12 percent of the republic’s established average wage.
This initiative has made Kyrgyzstan one of the most attractive jurisdictions in Eurasia for creative entrepreneurs. Official statistics clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach. To date, 165 active companies have registered as residents of the Creative Industries Park.
Kyrgyzstan became the first country in the CIS to introduce a unique extraterritorial legal framework for supporting creative industries and the creative community at the national level. Large-scale cultural projects, many of which have already become hallmarks of our country, continue to serve as a rich source of inspiration and meaning, while a new generation of talented Kyrgyz authors, artists, designers, and developers is successfully adapting this cultural heritage to modern technologies and communication formats. They create historical video games inspired by the nomadic civilizations, produce animated films based on national epics, and bring ethnic fashion to international runways.
The state has transformed its approach: culture is no longer viewed solely as a sector requiring public support, but increasingly as a source of economic value. We believe that creative freedom must be underpinned by economic freedom.
To encourage the growth of creative industries and reduce administrative barriers, Kyrgyzstan has introduced a unique fiscal regime specifically designed to support professionals working in this sector. In the fourth quarter of last year alone, the net revenue of Creative Industries Park residents exceeded $10 million, with more than 70 percent generated through exports of services. The park model has also helped curb the outflow of talented young people. Today, they can build successful careers at home while remaining connected to their cultural heritage.
Colleagues,
In conclusion, I would like to address a fundamental issue that will shape our common future: the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into all spheres of life, including culture.
Today, neural networks can easily compose music, write texts, and generate designs. Yet behind this technological breakthrough lies a profound challenge: the protection of intellectual property. Across Eurasia, we are confronting a significant legal gap. At present, none of our countries have clear legislative mechanisms to regulate AI-generated content or to protect the rights of writers, artists and composers, whose works created over many decades are downloaded free of charge and without their knowledge or consent to train global neural networks.
With the anniversaries of Chinghiz Aitmatov and Leo Tolstoy approaching, this issue takes on particular significance. How can we preserve and protect the Eurasian cultural legacy in an era of increasingly sophisticated digital reproduction? If we fail to address this challenge collectively, we risk losing control of our intellectual property. This is a matter that requires serious reflection and coordinated action. We need to work together to establish uniform rules of the game and effective digital mechanisms for protecting intellectual property in the age of artificial intelligence. After all, the central idea of our conference can be expressed in a simple formula: artificial intelligence generates algorithms, but humans create meanings. Let us do everything possible to preserve and strengthen the intellectual capital of our nations.
Thank you for your attention. I wish all participants a productive conference and engaging discussions.
Mikhail Shvydkoy: Thank you very much, Mr Kasymaliev.
May I ask you one more question? At the end of your remarks, you touched upon a highly important issue. It has been worrying very many people since the creation of the internet, artificial intelligence and neural networks. Some time ago, Steve Jobs took a sheet of white paper and said that, if this was the internet, then the law was in a completely different place.
So, here is my question. This is the year of Kyrgyzstan’s chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. In late August – early September, you will be hosting an SCO summit. Do you think it would be possible to include this issue of artificial intelligence and copyright into the agenda of the summit? After all, this issue is of grave concern for the entire global intellectual space, not only for the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Adylbek Kasymaliev: This is, indeed, a major issue, and I believe that we should address it collectively within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union and the CIS. And, of course, I also believe that this issue should be raised at the SCO summit, due to be held in late August – early September in Bishkek.
Mikhail Shvydkoy: Thank you very much, and I wish you all the best, while holding the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. And thank you so much for wonderfully hosting the CIS scientific and intellectual forum.
This year, we will celebrate multiple anniversaries, including the 35th anniversary of the CIS. Our Tajikistani brothers are celebrating both the anniversary of the presidency of the respected Emomali Rahmon and the anniversary of the republic. Naturally, all this is reflected in the overall agenda because Tajikistan is also rapidly developing creative industries, among other sectors.
I now give the floor to Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Kohir Rasulzoda.
Prime Minister of Tajikistan Kokhir Rasulzoda speaks at the International Conference on Strengthening Cultural Ties and Developing Creative Industries
Kokhir Rasulzoda: Mr Shvydkoy, Mr Mishustin, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen.
First of all, allow me, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, to express my sincere gratitude to the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, distinguished Mr Mishustin, and to our Russian friends for the traditionally warm welcome and excellent organisation of this conference.
It is symbolic that our meeting is taking place here, in St Petersburg. This remarkable hero city is rightly recognised as a cultural capital. St Petersburg, or Leningrad, has special, deeply personal historical significance for our nation. We hold sacred the memory of the tragic and heroic chapters in our common history during the Great Patriotic War.
During those harsh days, the people of Tajikistan sent echelons of humanitarian aid, food and warm clothes to the courageous defenders and residents of the besieged Leningrad. As a sign of their deep gratitude and in spite of the gruelling conditions, Leningraders printed and sent to Tajikistan thousands of valuable books that laid the foundation for the development of our school and research libraries.
Furthermore, it was Dushanbe that became the reliable second home for the evacuated creative companies from the city on the Neva during the war, including the famous Leningrad State Comedy Theatre. Our performers worked together on the same stage, creating a shared creative space.
St Petersburg’s atmosphere, its magnificent historical legacy, unique architecture and richest traditions continue to inspire us today to maintain a constructive and deeply meaningful dialogue about the future of our cultural and humanitarian cooperation.
Distinguished participants, our countries and peoples are united by their unique historical and spiritual communion. Our shared values, mutual respect, sincere interest in each other’s customs and, of course, long years of shared history bring us closer.
Today, the international community is realising more and more clearly that culture and art are not just elements of spiritual life but also powerful drivers of innovation, sustainable economic growth, and social solidarity. This is why strengthening our ties within the CIS is becoming a strategically important task.
In this context, I want to commend the enormous and beneficial work by the Interstate Humanitarian Cooperation Foundation. The forums and projects under the aegis of the foundation always become remarkable and unforgettable events. I want to take this opportunity and praise the excellent organisation of the recent CIS Forum of Creative and Scientific Intellectuals hosted by the welcoming Bishkek.
Tajikistan always supports closest cooperation in this area. We actively develop friendly and neighbourly relations and cultural exchanges with all our partners.
The high intensity of cultural exchanges over the past year is the clear indication of our close partnerships. Over this period, we have successfully held the Days of Tajik Culture in Russia, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan.
On our part, the capital of our republic, Dushanbe, warmly welcomed the Days of Azerbaijani Culture and, just recently, in May, the Days of Russian Culture. These events clearly prove that our peoples need continuous and interactive creative exchanges.
Colleagues, for the Republic of Tajikistan, the development of our national culture, careful preservation and promotion of our ancestors’ legacy are the key priorities of the state policy. As President of Tajikistan, distinguished Emomali Rahmon, stresses, culture is the nation’s mere being, its soul, and the main bridge connecting generations and peoples.
This is why culture in Tajikistan is on the rise. We are building our future while standing on our civilisational roots. The unique heritage of Tajik people opens up enormous opportunities for our creative people – from designers and architects to cinematographers and folk craftspeople.
We have large-scale UNESCO projects that help us consistently strengthen the international status of our historical legacy.
The World Heritage List includes the ancient city of Sarazm, the unique national park of Tajikistan, the trans-border Zarafshan-Karakum corridors of the Great Silk Road, as well as 11 outstanding monuments of Ancient Khuttal. The masterpieces of our non-material wealth, the classical musical art of shashmaqom, the music style of falak, and the unique traditional chakan embroidery are officially recognised world treasures.
We are particularly proud that
the World Crafts Council has awarded the ancient city of Istaravshan the status
of a World Craft City, while the city of Panjakent has been recognised as a World Craft City for suzani embroidery. These cultural centres have over 150
unique traditional crafts carefully preserved. This centuries-old heritage
continues to nourish and inspire modern-day creative industries.
We are building numerous new sites designed to become centres of attraction for young people and the creative professionals. In order to further study and preserve this vast layer of our history, and by decision of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, two major new institutions are being established in our country: the International Navruz Centre and the Konun, which is Aryan Civilisation Centre. These unrivalled institutions are intended to serve as authoritative research and cultural platforms for strengthening national identity, preserving cultural heritage, and expanding international cultural cooperation.
At the same time, as part of our strategic partnership with the Russian Federation, construction is under way of a new building for the Vladimir Mayakovsky State Russian Drama Theatre. This large-scale project, being implemented at the initiative of the leaders of our two countries, will become another vibrant symbol of our sincere friendship.
Colleagues,
We must not only preserve what we already have, but also create modern formats for youth engagement, the development of creativity-driven industries, joint film production, and digital projects. In this context, I would like to propose several concrete steps to strengthen cooperation across the Commonwealth.
First, we believe it is important to launch country-to-country programmes to support cities, crafts and creative centres. This would help bring together our rich folk traditions with the modern industries of fashion, design, and architecture.
Second, it is necessary to expand exchange programmes among the universities providing training in creative professions in order to train the workforce for the new creativity-driven economy. In this regard, I would like to express my gratitude to the Russian side for regularly allocating dedicated quotas for students from Tajikistan to study at Russia’s leading cultural and arts institutions. We believe it is necessary to broaden this cooperation among all CIS countries.
Third, a promising initiative would be to create joint grant programmes to support youth start-up businesses in digital creativity, animation, and modern media technologies.
Fourth, we consider it extremely important to combine our efforts to project an authentic spiritual and cultural image of our peoples throughout the common humanitarian space and the media.
The launch of joint awareness and media projects would allow us to present our unique heritage more vividly and truthfully, strengthening traditional values, friendship, and mutual understanding among the citizens of our countries.
Colleagues,
In closing, I would once again like to express my deep appreciation to the Government and St Petersburg leadership for the warm atmosphere and the excellent organisation of this meeting.
Mikhail Shvydkoy: Thank you very much.
Mr Rasulzoda, I have a quick question for you. What do you consider most important for awareness programmes? What kinds of educational programmes in the media should we focus on? Where should we begin?
Kokhir Rasulzoda: I believe that, first of all, we must showcase everything we have.
Recently, at the initiative of the leaders of our two countries — the President of Tajikistan, the distinguished Emomali Rahmon, and the President of Uzbekistan, the distinguished Shavkat Mirziyoyev — we produced a film titled “Jami and Navoi.” What impact will this film have on our young people? Today we speak about friendship and mutual understanding which is critically important for the post-Soviet space.
We have seen difficult periods. We have just returned from Tashkent, where we attended an investment forum. Yet there was a time when we hardly visited one another. We were not even discussing shared heritage or culture. We had become almost unfriendly countries. Thanks to films like this and to the reset in relations, the situation has changed dramatically. Let me give you a few figures. Uzbekistan has a population of 40 million and Tajikistan 10 million. Before the reset, only around 3,000 people travelled between our countries. Today that number has reached 4 million. Consider the trade volumes and the joint ventures. This has created hundreds of thousands of new jobs. It has fostered an atmosphere of friendship, mutual understanding and neighbourliness. These are the things we must showcase and bring to public attention.
Mikhail Shvydkoy: Thank you very much.
Mr Prime Minister, since we have two ministers here — your wonderful and distinguished Ms Sattoriyon and our equally distinguished Olga Lyubimova — you might ask them to take up the task of producing awareness content. We will help them as best we can.
It would be imprudent on my part to start telling our colleagues about
Uzbekistan from which Mr Mishustin has just returned, and which the respected
Mr Rasulzoda and other participants visited most recently. One thing I can tell
you is that Uzbekistan is making extraordinarily dynamic strides. Sure enough,
we were impressed to find out that one million children are born in that
country every year.
Clearly, this overstretches social infrastructure, schools and kindergartens, but it is indeed a great blessing for that wonderful country.
The floor goes to Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov.
Remarks by Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov at the International Conference on Strengthening Cultural Ties and Developing Creative Industries
Abdulla Aripov: Good afternoon, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen. I want to open by expressing my gratitude to the Government of the Russian Federation and personally Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin for the traditionally warm welcome and the high level of organisation of our conference dedicated to strengthening cultural ties and developing creativity-driven industries.
Importantly, participants have been provided with everything they need for productive work and also for getting familiar with the unique cultural heritage of St Petersburg. As we discussed yesterday with our colleagues, many participants have come to St Petersburg for the first time.
The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the distinguished Shavkat Mirziyoyev, recently pointed out at a meeting with cultural figures that culture and arts play an invaluable role in shaping people’s spirituality, worldview, and in educating young people.
Today, as the fight for influence and for human mind intensifies across the world, books, theatre, cinema, music and literature are becoming the most effective means of strengthening society’s spiritual immunity which is why art, faithful to its roots and lofty humanist ideals, must bring creation, harmony, and graciousness to the world.
Modern cultural spaces are being created in Uzbekistan as part of large-scale reforms that are geared towards spiritual and moral advancement. Particular attention is paid to preserving the rich cultural heritage of the multiethnic people of Uzbekistan and developing creative industries as key drivers of economic and cultural growth.
Our state policy is designed to provide comprehensive support for talent and to form a modern creative ecosystem. At the same time, cultural diplomacy has an important place in Uzbekistan’s foreign policy. Thanks to its unique historical heritage, our country is an active participant in the global cultural dialogue. International cooperation programmes are being implemented on a systematic basis with the CIS countries, Asia, Africa, Europe, and America, including tours, exhibitions, and film projects.
It is especially pleasing that in early June two major cultural events took place in St Petersburg. An exhibition of the cultural heritage of the Emirate of Bukhara opened at the Hermitage, and Handel’s opera Tamerlano premiered on the new stage of the Mariinsky Theatre. These events are part of Uzbekistan’s broader international cultural presence. International festivals such as Sharq Taronalari, Lazgi, makom and bakhshi forums, crafts, the Bukhara Biennale of contemporary art and other similar events have become the country’s hallmark, as they promote ideas of peace and mutual understanding.
In order to strengthen the cultural and humanitarian dimension of our cooperation, we invite our partners to join the creative and tourism Samarkand-St Petersburg Corridor initiative advanced by the head of our state.
The initiative envisages the organisation of joint art and film festivals, museum exhibitions, food tasting weeks, and musical events.
The Islamic Civilisation Centre, which opened this year in Tashkent, has become a unique project in the cultural and humanitarian life not only of our country but of the world at large. This ambitious project initiated by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, distinguished Shavkat Mirziyoyev, is conceived as a bridge connecting the country’s great past to its future.
The centre is designed to be used for an in-depth study and wide dissemination of the three-thousand-year history of the people, as well as the cultural and educational heritage of our ancestors and their contribution to world civilisation.
The 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in the heart of the Great Silk Road, the ancient city of Samarkand, last autumn, came as a historical recognition of Uzbekistan’s role in preserving the world’s cultural heritage.
The participation of more than 3,000 delegates from 190 countries and the fact that the session was held, importantly, for the first time in the last four decades outside Paris, underlines Uzbekistan’s high international standing.
I would like to once again express gratitude to our partners for their support and active participation in the events.
Today, the creativity-driven economy has ceased to be merely a sphere of creativity. It has become a powerful engine of global growth, accounting for up to 7 percent of global GDP.
Uzbekistan is deeply engaged in this process, as young people make up over 60 percent of our society. Combined with rich cultural heritage and rapid development of digital infrastructure, we have all we need to make a major breakthrough.
The results can be readily seen. The share of the creativity-driven sector in the economy is just under 4 percent. Nearly 320,000 people are employed in this sector, and exports have exceeded $800 million. In order to further promote this field, a law on the creativity-driven economy has been adopted and a Creative Industries Park is being built.
Our goal is to provide artists, designers, musicians, and entrepreneurs not just with a platform, but with an ecosystem. By an executive order of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the tax burden for residents of the park has been reduced. Income and social taxes have been halved from 12 percent to 6 percent. The park includes 142 types of activity across 15 areas ranging from design, fashion, and architecture to cinema, music, and digital technologies.
Our plans include large-scale projects in collaboration with international experts and the organisation of a series of exhibitions around the world. In addition, major events will be held in each region of Uzbekistan so that every talented individual, regardless of place of residence, has the opportunity for self-realisation.
Our strategic goal is to increase the share of the creativity-driven economy in the country’s GDP to 5 percent by 2030, raise service exports to $1 billion, and bring the number of people employed in this sector to 500,000.
An important role in advancing the creativity-driven economy is played by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Foundation, which stimulates and supports innovation and carries out systematic work to preserve and promote our cultural heritage.
Participants,
The creativity-driven economy is an investment in the future. Our goal is to create an environment where creative potential becomes a driver of success, and rich cultural heritage becomes a recognisable national brand.
Uzbekistan is open to expanding cooperation and is ready to implement joint projects in the cultural and humanitarian sphere.
I am convinced that the ideas and proposals that we discuss today will give a boost to strengthening cultural ties and advancing creativity-driven industries. I would like to take this opportunity to invite all of you to visit Uzbekistan to experience first-hand our ancient history and rich culture and arts.
I would like to close by once again expressing my gratitude to the Russian side for its gracious hospitality and the high level of organisation of the conference. I wish all participants productive discussions and successful work. Mr Shvydkoy, before you ask your question I would like to make a brief remark.
When my colleague was speaking, you said that a large number of universities and branches are being opened, the largest number ever. The largest number of branches of Russian universities has opened in Uzbekistan: our country is the absolute champion in this regard with 15 branches of Russian universities operating in our country. Over 60,000 Uzbekistani students are studying on a contractual basis at Russian universities, also ranking on the top of the list in that regard.
Mikhail Shvydkoy: Thank you very much, Mr Aripov. I did say that they have many universities and branches of universities. But I did not have the opportunity to add that you have a very large number of universities and branches as well. This is a natural thing. These are the best universities. Mikhail Piotrovsky, the director of the Hermitage, is here, and we, together with Olga Lyubimova, the Minister of Culture, had the honour of attending this wonderful celebration of Uzbek culture both at the Hermitage and at the Mariinsky Theatre.
Indeed, what the Culture and Arts Support Foundation does, and what Gayane Umerova and Saida Mirziyoyeva are doing personally constitutes a tremendous contribution. I have only one question for you: when do you think the actual implementation of the Samarkand-St Petersburg tourist cluster route programme can start? What should it focus on initially?
Abdulla Aripov: Frankly, it has already started a long time ago. In 2018, we first held an exhibition of the Soviet modern art at the Pushkin Museum in Moscow. The paintings from the Savitsky Museum were exhibited at the Pushkin Museum.
The performance at the Mariinsky Theatre and everything else was a follow-up. Without a doubt, we must enrich and supplement this programme with other areas of the creative industries, because, as I mentioned, it covers at least 15 areas. Therefore, we need to bring all these areas into it.
You asked one of my colleagues how he envisions a road map. It would be right to create a good and large road map which other countries and neighbours could join. I think it would be more complete and comprehensive that way.
Mikhail Shvydkoy: Thank you very much, Mr Aripov.
Abdulla Aripov: I would like to make a remark, if I may.
You have observed that there is dynamic population growth in Uzbekistan: one million each year – naturally, each individual perceives this in their own way. This, too, constitutes our wealth.
Allow me to add something further. In my report, I affirmed that young people account for 60 percent of Uzbekistan’s population. Several years ago, when we launched a programme – again initiated by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev – to train one million programmers, one of my colleagues in Almaty, during a digital summit, questioned this initiative.
Yet we not only implemented this programme in Uzbekistan; we succeeded in training not one million, but 2.3 million programmers – and programming, indeed, forms part of the creative economy. I wish to underscore that, whereas in 2016 Uzbekistan exported only 600,000 dollars’ worth of software products to the West, by 2025 we had reached one billion dollars. Compare $600,000 with one billion dollars. So, we have provided employment for a significant number of people. And it was the younger generation who accomplished this.
The most remarkable aspect is that this programme, this concept – indeed, the entire project – was proposed to us by the United Arab Emirates. They also extended this very project to six other economically developing countries. However, they were unable to train even 500,000 programmers there.
Thus, my principal point is this: everywhere, there must be a system and a systematic approach. If one focuses not solely on promotion and proclamation, but works methodically, one can achieve a great deal – including in the realm of the creative economy.
Mikhail Shvydkoi: Thank you very much, Mr Aripov.
I would like to state at once that we warmly welcome Uzbekistan’s achievements. We recognise that under the leadership of the President of the Republic, this development has advanced at a striking pace in recent years.
We also take pleasure in Turkmenistan’s successes. This year, Turkmenistan chairs the CIS. I am pleased to invite Minister of Education of Turkmenistan Jumamyrat Gurbangeldiyev to take the floor. Please.
Jumamyrat Gurbangeldiyev: Heads of government, colleagues, and friends. First and foremost, allow me to express my sincere gratitude to the organisers of today’s plenary session for their hospitality and the exemplary preparation of this meeting.
The subject of our discussion – cultural interaction, heritage preservation, and global dialogue in the contemporary world – is of particular relevance at present. Cultural and academic collaboration has always constituted a solid foundation for neighbourliness, mutual respect, and the collective historical memory of the peoples of the Commonwealth. As President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov underscores, this represents a sign of the high level of trust and recognition of Turkmenistan’s contribution to the development of cooperation within the Commonwealth space, as Turkmenistan chairs the CIS this year.
Currently, the development of international cooperation in the cultural and academic field is becoming one of the priorities of Turkmenistan’s state policy. In line with the concept of Turkmenistan’s chairmanship of the CIS, humanitarian, cultural, educational, and scientific ties have been identified among the key priorities.
Our country is committed to further strengthening collaboration founded upon trust, equality, and respect for national traditions. Turkmenistan approaches its chairmanship from the perspective of its neutral status as an associate member of the CIS.
As our President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasises, in the context of current global instability, the principal task of the Commonwealth is to preserve the traditions of neighbourliness, mutual understanding, and respect that unite the peoples of the participating states.
I would like to highlight in particular that the year 2026 in Turkmenistan is being held under the motto: Independent Neutral Turkmenistan – Homeland of Purposeful Winged Steeds. This motto embodies the profound respect of the Turkmen people for their historical heritage, national traditions, and spiritual values.
Participants of the session, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Hero-Arkadag, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, the esteemed Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, affirms in his book Music of Peace, Music of Friendship and Brotherhood that our people hold the principles of friendship, brotherhood, and peace in special esteem and value good relations – principles that find artistic expression in our national art.
At the heart of tradition have always been the culture and art of the people. Simultaneously, art has always united people the world over. The power of art has become a steadfast foundation for spiritual and cultural unity in the modern era. In this context, the traditions of our peoples are not a static history, but rather a living civilisational code.
Across the centuries, the Turkmen people have diligently preserved their unique cultural heritage: the traditions of craftsmanship, respect for the family, for the older generation, for labour, for knowledge, and for lofty spiritual and moral values.
Turkmenistan engages in fruitful collaboration both within the framework of the CIS and on a broader scale – in particular with UNESCO – in the preservation, study, and popularisation of our rich cultural heritage.
Special significance is accorded to the protection and restoration of monuments on the UNESCO World Heritage List, such as Ancient Merv, Nisa, and Kunya-Urgench. There is an active process underway for inclusion in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
A significant role in the popularisation of cultural heritage is also played by the Cultural Capital of the Commonwealth interstate programme, within the framework of which such ancient Turkmen cities as Merv and Dashoguz have, in various years, become centres of cultural attraction throughout the CIS space.
This experience has offered a clear demonstration that joint cultural projects can strengthen the ties of friendship and help expand humanitarian contacts, while offering new
opportunities to researchers, creative intellectuals, young people and art figures
from across the CIS space.
Colleagues, culture and education have been facing new serious challenges in today’s world. The rapid development of digital technology and artificial intelligence is one of the biggest challenges of them all.
What matters to us is that the latest technology strengthens and promotes traditions rather than breaks them. It is for this reason that Turkmenistan believes that digital tools have the potential to promote traditional values, make the younger generation more interested in their national heritage and facilitate greater cultural cooperation among CIS countries.
In this context, making full use of the opportunities offered by the digital transition has special importance in terms of preserving our rich historical and cultural heritage and making it available in virtual space. By delivering on this objective, we can ensure that young people, researchers, teachers and a wider audience can access this heritage.
Looking into the future, we must treat culture not only as a spiritual domain, but also as a major contributor to promoting steady development.
Today, efforts to develop the creative economy, promote cultural initiatives and educational projects, as well as new forms of youth cooperation have been attracting more attention across the CIS space.
In this context, establishing the association of creative industries for the CIS space is an important and timely initiative. Turkmenistan supports this innovative track since its offers more opportunities for empowering youth creativity, strengthening cultural ties and promoting the national heritage while relying on the latest formats and approaches.
Turkmenistan views its cooperation within the CIS framework as a major element of its international humanitarian ties. Guided by an open doors policy and our permanent neutrality, our country believes that culture serves as the so-called golden bridge which unites nations, helps build trust, promote mutual understanding and respect.
In May 2026, Ashgabat served as the venue for the CIS Council of Heads of Government meeting which offered a vivid demonstration of our commitment to achieving tangible results in our partnership. This meeting provided an additional impetus to promoting cooperation in research and technology, trade and economics, and humanitarian affairs. Held from 4 to 6 June in Moscow, the days of Turkmenistan’s culture in the Russian Federation became a major event in terms of our cultural and humanitarian cooperation. The programme included exhibitions, meetings with creative people, national art presentations and performances by Turkmenistan’s cultural figures. This event demonstrated yet again that cultural dialogue helps strengthen our friendship, mutual understanding and create a stronger spiritual bond between our nations.
Ashgabat also intends to serve as the venue for a meeting of the CIS Council for Cultural Cooperation this year. The agenda for this event provides for discussing priorities for strengthening cooperation in culture, preserving historical and cultural heritage, promoting creative exchanges and expanding humanitarian contacts.
Colleagues, as the country chairing the CIS, Turkmenistan is doing and will continue to do everything possible to carry out positive and ambitious humanitarian initiatives in the interests of all nations across the CIS.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to once again thank the organisers for holding this meeting and wish all the participants in this plenary session fruitful, constructive and successful work. I wish you all good health, wellbeing and future success in your noble undertakings to serve your people for the sake of peace and prosperity across the CIS space.
Mikhail Shvydkoy: Thank you Mr Gurbangeldiev, thank you so much. Please convey our best wishes to your national leader, the President of Turkmenistan.
I would like to thank the heads of government who took the floor, as well as his excellency the minister from Turkmenistan.
You created a very powerful impetus for continuing this conversation. The vision that we now have in terms of developing creative industries will help us embark on specific projects building on today’s debates.
Thank you very much.
