On December 15, 2025, an international cultural event was held at the UN headquarters in New York to mark the 30th anniversary of the adoption of UN General Assembly resolution 49/129, which recognizes the epic 'Manas' as a significant spiritual heritage of the Kyrgyz people.
Among the participants were the Minister of Culture, Information, and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mirbek Mambetaliev, the Permanent Representative of Kyrgyzstan to the UN, Aida Kasymalieva, the Deputy Chair of the UN General Assembly, as well as experts and diplomats from various countries.
The resolution, adopted in 1994, was the first international document to officially recognize the epic 'Manas' as part of the oral and intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
During the event, the universal values of the epic 'Manas' and their connection to the fundamental principles of the UN and sustainable development goals were discussed. Participants were also presented with information about Kyrgyzstan's candidacy for membership in the UN Security Council for the years 2027-2028.
The program included both an official part and a cultural program, as well as a panel discussion, and was conducted in a hybrid format. Participants were shown audio-visual materials highlighting the philosophical depth and universal values of the epic 'Manas', such as peace, unity, and justice.
Mirbek Mambetaliev, in his speech, called on the international community to participate in the World Nomad Games and the International Forum, which will take place at Issyk-Kul in 2026.
This event contributed to strengthening Kyrgyzstan's cultural diplomacy and was an important step in promoting the national spiritual heritage on the global stage.
It is worth noting that in 1995, the UN General Assembly supported the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the epic 'Manas', and relevant events were held with the assistance of UNESCO.
