Since 1997, November 16 has been celebrated globally as International Hospitality Day, as per the United Nations General Assembly's resolution. In Uzbekistan, celebrating this date has become a cherished tradition. Since 2019, under the initiative of the President, this date has been marked as a week-long celebration, known as "Hospitality Week."

This year, the tradition continues with the start of "Hospitality Week." Over the course of 7 days, various cultural, educational, and scientific-practical events, such as international press club sessions, roundtable discussions, conferences, photo exhibitions, and more, will be held.

One of the key priorities of Uzbekistan’s national policy is to create equal conditions and opportunities for the development of all nations and to promote interethnic harmony.

Today, Uzbekistan is becoming an example to the world for the hospitality it embodies. Uzbekistan's centuries-old experience, along with the characteristics of hospitality specific to the Uzbek people, serves as a model for Central Asia and other developed countries.

In this regard, the Committee for Interethnic Relations and Friendship with Foreign Countries, under the Ministry of Culture, together with the Committee for Religious Affairs and other organizations, is holding Hospitality Week in the country from November 11-16 to mark International Hospitality Day.

The main goal of the week is to foster an understanding of civic duty, patriotism, honor, dignity, and civic responsibility, as well as to strengthen the culture of interethnic communication and hospitality. It aims to activate the participation of citizens, especially children and youth, in the development of society, and to enhance the sense of interethnic and interfaith hospitality.

As part of the program, today, November 11, the next session of the International Press Club was held at the Media Center of Uzbekistan National TV and Radio Company. The session focused on the work being done in Uzbekistan to ensure interethnic harmony, religious tolerance, and the development of friendly relations with foreign countries. The session featured speakers including Azamat Toshev, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Interethnic Relations and Friendship with Foreign Countries, Davronbek Maxsudov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Religious Affairs, Uyg‘un G‘afurov, Rector of the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan, and Guldana Avezdurdiyeva, Chairwoman of the Turkmen Culture Center and Member of the Oliy Majlis (Parliament).

They highlighted that hospitality, which requires showing respect for the way of life, behavior, emotions, ideas, and beliefs of people from different ethnic groups, is one of the key democratic principles, and that hospitality is growing not only at the state level but also at the personal and group levels.

The session also heard reports from the leadership of the Committee for Interethnic Relations and Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Committee for Religious Affairs, and various responsible ministries, agencies, national cultural centers, and religious communities operating in the country.

On the same day, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Independence Monument in Tashkent’s "New Uzbekistan" park, with representatives from various ethnic and religious groups participating. The event was attended by the leadership and staff of the committees, national cultural centers, and religious representatives, as well as citizens and media representatives.

Representatives of national cultural centers and religious communities expressed the importance of safeguarding the interethnic harmony and hospitality prevailing in Uzbekistan.

The events held during the week will contribute to the active involvement of the population, especially the youth, in the development of society. It will also strengthen the feelings of patriotism, interethnic harmony, and interfaith hospitality, encourage the preservation of the language, culture, traditions, and customs of different ethnic groups residing in the republic, and increase their participation in social and political life.

The "Hospitality Week" will continue in Uzbekistan until November 16.