UNESCO Event Showcases Power of Literature to Build Bridges Between Cultures

The international conference “A Common Heritage Uniting the World” convened at UNESCO Headquarters, bringing together diplomats, scholars, and cultural leaders to honor the enduring legacy of Chingiz Aitmatov, a celebrated writer who bridged Eastern and Western cultures.

Organized by the Permanent Delegation of the Kyrgyz Republic to UNESCO in cooperation with the General Secretariat of TURKSOY, the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, and the Chingiz Aitmatov Institutes in Kyrgyzstan and Turkey, the event attracted UNESCO’s Deputy Director-General, the Secretary General of TURKSOY, ambassadors, and leading experts from the Turkic world and beyond, The Caspian Post reports via Turkmen media.

Representing Turkmenistan, Ambassador Maksat Chariyev, Dr. Murad Tuvakov, and Chary Kuliev presented reports and shared a video showcasing the Chingiz Aitmatov monument located at the Magtymguly Fragi cultural and park complex in Ashgabat.

The conference highlighted Aitmatov’s role as a cultural bridge between East and West, with discussions centered on universal themes found in his works-memory, identity, generational continuity, and respect for cultural heritage. Special emphasis was placed on the concept of the “mankurt,” a symbol of the risk of losing one’s historical and spiritual roots.

Aitmatov’s literary works, translated into more than 170 languages, continue to foster intercultural dialogue and deepen mutual understanding amid the world’s ongoing transformations.

Eldar Aitmatov, son of the renowned writer, underscored the timeless relevance of his father’s messages regarding humanity’s responsibility to nature, history, and each other, particularly in the face of today’s global challenges.