On May 15, 2019, the International Turkic Academy together with the Permanent Delegations of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkey to UNESCO organized a high-level International Forum: “The Great Steppe: Cultural Heritage and its Role in World History” at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

The opening ceremony of the event included welcoming speeches by the heads of the Permanent Delegations of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkey to UNESCO, as well as the Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Kingdom of Belgium Mr Muktar Djumaliev.

In his welcoming speech, the Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Kingdom of Belgium Mr. Muktar Djumaliev highlighted the role of international organizations in the preservation and promotion of Turkic culture and heritage of Turkic-speaking nations, the significance of the creative works of Mr. Chingiz Aitmatov for the Turkic cultural heritage.

Also the deputies of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic Mr. Sadyk Sher-Niyaz and Kanybek Imanaliev spoke at the Forum on the topics: “Turkic culture at the crossroads of space and time” and “The idea of statehood in the work of Jusup Balasagun “Kudatgu Bilik”, as well as the candidate of the historical sciences Professor Arslan Koichiev on the topic: “Mogulistan and its place in the history of Kyrgyz and Kazakhs”.

The Forum presented a broad picture of the Turkic cultural heritage, its influence and contribution to the world cultural heritage.