The Kyrgyz cultural project Silk Road Fest has unofficially been recognized as the best and has greatly interested representatives from China.
Today in Astana, the International Cultural Forum of the Silk Road concluded its work, gathering scholars, artists, and entrepreneurs from five countries: China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The event was organized by the Chinese Fund for Culture and Arts of Nationalities, the Chinese Silk Road Fund, with the support of the Fund for the Spiritual Development of the People of Kazakhstan. The theme of the event was "Together We Will Create a Belt of Cultural Cooperation of the Silk Road in the 21st Century."
Over three days, from December 8 to 10, representatives from political, scientific, and business circles, as well as cultural and artistic figures, discussed the joint creation of the "Belt of Cultural Cooperation of the Silk Road in the 21st Century."
It is noteworthy that within the framework of the forum, two representatives from the Kyrgyz delegation—parliament members Elmira Imanalieva and Bakhadyr Suleimanov—met with the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Karim Massimov, exchanging friendly greetings. The meeting particularly emphasized the need to maintain cultural and humanitarian ties between the two neighboring countries.
Regarding the outcomes of the forum, "Vesti.kg" spoke with its participant, member of the Kyrgyz delegation, domestic political scientist Igor Shestakov:
- The forum was quite important in terms of positioning the Great Silk Road project, as in Kyrgyzstan it is perceived as a project related to the logistics of Chinese goods from Asia to Europe. The organizers managed to show that cooperation can develop not only in the economic sphere but also in the cultural and humanitarian sphere. The presence of representatives from several countries at the forum indicates that the project is promising, especially considering that the countries, primarily in Central Asia and Russia, have much in common in traditions and culture. Moreover, we are in a unified information space. In this regard, the creative presentation from the Kyrgyz Republic, related to the development of unified tourist brands in music, ethnography, etc., stood out. In fact, this project received the highest praise from the Chinese representatives, - Shestakov stated with pride.
Also, according to him, Shestakov voiced the initiative to launch a unified informational support for the project. After all, citizens of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and even Russia have a rather vague idea of what this project will entail. Our country could become an analytical and media platform for the Great Silk Road project.
- Of course, other interesting projects were also presented—from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. The Chinese expressed interest in some of them. There was even a suggestion that financial support would be provided for the most interesting ones, - Igor Shestakov reassured.
To clarify, from the Kyrgyz delegation, Deputy Minister of Culture, Information, and Tourism Maksat Chakiyev stated that the Silk Road Fest project—this is what particularly interested the Chinese and was unofficially recognized as the best at the forum. This is an event-based project studying the national cultures of the countries, which, its authors hope, will become a new catalyst for the cultural and spiritual unification of all countries and nationalities along the Silk Road.
