Greetings, dear participants of the meeting! Dear colleagues, members of the delegation! Ladies and gentlemen!

On behalf of the delegation of Uzbekistan, allow me to sincerely express our gratitude for the warm reception and attention from the very first moments of our stay on the hospitable land of the Russian Federation.

The year 2024 was an important year for the Republic of Uzbekistan, particularly for the city of Samarkand, which became the cultural capital of the Commonwealth. The program of cultural capitals of the Commonwealth is a unique initiative aimed at showcasing cultural heritage and promoting cultural exchange between the member states of the Commonwealth.

For Uzbekistan, and especially for Samarkand, which received the honorary title of cultural capital this year, this is a special honor and responsibility. Samarkand is one of the oldest cities in the world, with a history of 2,750 years, on par with Rome, Athens, and Babylon. The city is located on the left bank of the Zeravshan River in the central part of Uzbekistan. Samarkand has long attracted the attention of politicians, businessmen, and travelers. During the era of Timur, the city reached new heights and glory. It was a key junction on the Great Silk Road, strategically located. In Samarkand, remarkable examples of medieval architecture, with perfection in form and variety, have been preserved. Today, the architectural monuments of Samarkand are an integral part of the world cultural heritage and stand as true gems of world civilization. The city is included in UNESCO's World Heritage list.

Samarkand today is also famous for its applied arts and folk crafts. Samarkand silk, jewelry, pottery, the famous Samarkand bread, and the unique Samarkand paper are well known and widely recognized in many countries.

Today, the talented works of Samarkand masters adorn museum halls in New York, Paris, Berlin, London, St. Petersburg, and other cities in the CIS.

In 2024, we achieved significant successes with this program. May I take this opportunity to introduce the main achievements and events that took place this year:

From April 1-5, an International Cultural Festival and the grand opening of "Samarkand – Cultural Capital of the Commonwealth" were held.

Samarkand became a cultural exchange hub, hosting numerous guests and participants from CIS countries. The festival included a variety of events: exhibitions and concert programs, master classes by representatives from Uzbekistan and member states of the CIS. This event allowed us to showcase the unique traditions and arts of our region and strengthen the ties between our peoples.

Throughout the year, various cultural events, master classes, and exhibitions were organized. From August 26-30, the "Eastern Melodies" International Music Festival was held in Samarkand, where we witnessed a unique positive atmosphere among the guests from Commonwealth countries. In November, we plan to hold the closing ceremony of this high-level project in Samarkand. I invite all of you to this event! Our commitment to promoting cultural cooperation and exchange remains unchanged. We are confident that Samarkand, as the cultural capital, will continue to serve as a center for strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between our peoples through cultural and humanitarian cooperation.

Thank you for your attention and active participation in the implementation of the "Cultural Capitals of the Commonwealth" interstate program.

Thank you for your attention!