A meeting was held in Bishkek where the culture ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic and Russia discussed current issues of cultural cooperation. The Minister of Culture, Information and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mirbek Mambetaliev, and his Russian counterpart, Olga Lyubimova, met as part of the Days of Culture of the Russian Federation taking place in Kyrgyzstan.
According to the Ministry of Culture of the Kyrgyz Republic, during the meeting, the parties addressed numerous issues related to humanitarian and cultural interaction, emphasizing the importance of sustainable dialogue and friendly ties between the two countries.
Mirbek Mambetaliev highlighted the significance of Olga Lyubimova's visit for strengthening cultural ties between Kyrgyzstan and Russia.
“Our cooperation is based on strategic partnership and strong historical, cultural, and spiritual connections. Cultural interaction plays a key role in strengthening trust and mutual understanding between our peoples,” Mambetaliev emphasized.
The minister also added that from 2024, the practice of mutual Days of Culture will be resumed. He noted the successful holding of the Days of Culture of Kyrgyzstan in Russia, which were timed to the 100th anniversary of the Kara-Kyrgyz Autonomous Region and generated significant interest among the Russian audience.
The work of the theater "Workshop 12," led by Nikita Mikhalkov, was also noted, whose performances at the Chingiz Aitmatov Russian Drama Theater became an important event in the cultural life.
One of the key topics of discussion was educational and professional cooperation. The Kyrgyz side expressed gratitude to Russia for providing quotas for Kyrgyz students at leading creative universities and for supporting the Ch.Aitmatov State National Russian Drama Theater.
Mirbek Mambetaliev proposed to consider the possibility of methodological support for the creative unions of Kyrgyzstan from the Russian Ministry of Culture, including organizing joint seminars, internships, and experience exchanges in managing cultural institutions.
Additionally, the prospects for the development of national film production were discussed. The minister reported on the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Culture of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Sverdlovsk Film Studio, which will allow Kyrgyz specialists and young representatives of the film industry to receive training for free.
“This initiative will contribute to the development of national film production, mastering modern technologies, and preparing a new generation of specialists, which will become the foundation of future Kyrgyz cinema,” Mambetaliev added.
For her part, Olga Lyubimova noted that her visit to Bishkek opens new horizons for cooperation.
“We highly value the opportunity to expand cultural dialogue and see great prospects for joint projects, ranging from preserving our common cultural heritage to nurturing gifted youth,” Lyubimova emphasized.
She also announced the Russian side's readiness to participate in the formation of the program for the Year of Chingiz Aitmatov, which will be celebrated in Kyrgyzstan in 2028, and invited representatives of the Kyrgyz museum community to participate in the International Festival "Intermuseum" and youth to the International Children's Cultural Forum in 2026.
At the end of the meeting, the parties expressed confidence that culture and art would serve as a solid bridge of friendship and mutual understanding between the peoples of Kyrgyzstan and Russia.
