ISLAMABAD, 15 NOV (DNA) — Uzbekistan and Jordan are exploring new opportunities to strengthen cultural and artistic cooperation through joint educational programmes, heritage preservation projects, creative exchanges and cultural tourism.
Uzbekistan’s Minister of Culture, Ozodbek Nazarbekov, said the two countries shared common values, including respect for history, spiritual heritage, knowledge, education and the arts. In an article issued by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Pakistan, he said cultural relations between the two countries had steadily developed in recent years, creating new opportunities for closer cooperation.
The Minister noted that the regular participation of Jordanian representatives in international forums and cultural festivals in Uzbekistan had helped promote mutual understanding, respect and trust between the two peoples. Referring to his meeting with Her Royal Highness Princess Dana Firas of Jordan on October 3, 2024, Nazarbekov said both sides had discussed prospects for expanding cooperation.
The discussions focused on joint educational programmes, tangible and intangible cultural heritage, creative exchanges and the development of creative industries. They also highlighted growing cooperation within the framework of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO).
The minister cited Jordan’s participation in several major cultural events in Uzbekistan as evidence of growing artistic ties between the two countries. These included the international forum “Central Asia at the Crossroads of World Civilisations”, held in Khiva from September 14 to 16, 2021, and the International Lazgi Dance Festival in April 2022 and 2024. Jordanian representatives also participated in the International Maqom Art Festival, held in Zomin from June 26 to 28, 2024.
Nazarbekov said music could transcend language barriers, adding that maqom conveyed emotions, elegance and philosophy through its melodies. He also highlighted Jordanian participation in the “Sharq Taronalari” International Music Festival in Samarkand, held from August 26 to 30, 2025.
The active participation of Jordanian journalists in the 4th International Festival of Bakhshi Art, organised in Khiva from April 26 to 28, 2025, further strengthened cultural understanding, he added.
The minister also recalled the participation of a Jordanian delegation, led by Culture Minister M. Al-Rawashdeh, in the opening ceremonies of “Samarkand, Cultural Capital of the Islamic World 2025”, held from May 26 to 28.
He stressed that cultural heritage should not be preserved merely as a relic of the past but should remain meaningful and relevant to younger generations. He said cooperation between experts from Uzbekistan and Jordan could generate innovative initiatives, particularly in cultural heritage preservation, creative industries and cultural tourism.
Nazarbekov said the success of cultural cooperation should not be measured only by the number of festivals and official meetings. Its real impact, he added, could be seen when one nation’s art found a place in the hearts of another, young people developed creative connections, and both countries shared responsibility for preserving cultural heritage.
Expressing confidence in the future of bilateral relations, he said culture was not merely a way to remember the past but also a spiritual force for building a shared future “Geographical boundaries may determine the distance between countries, but it is culture that brings peoples closer together,” he concluded. — DNA
