Today, on November 20, a meeting took place between Yusufjon Usmonov, Deputy Minister of Culture of Uzbekistan, and Abdullah Eren, Chairman of the Directorate for Foreign Turks and Diaspora Communities of the Republic of Turkey.

During the meeting, it was emphasized that Uzbekistan has established close ties with its Turkish brothers throughout history, and that over the past years, numerous activities have been implemented in the cultural sector. It was also highlighted that more than 50,000 representatives of the Turkish nation currently reside in Uzbekistan.

Additionally, it was noted that in 2003, the "Uzbekistan-Turkey" Friendship Society was established in Uzbekistan, which through "people's diplomacy" has been developing mutual relations, strengthening cultural and educational ties, and constantly providing assistance in social-economic, scientific, cultural, and spiritual development.

Abdullah Eren mentioned that, under the initiative of the Directorate, students from 178 countries come to Turkey for undergraduate and postgraduate education.

He also stated that in 2024, over 200 Uzbek students have been invited to Turkey, with 140 of them studying in Turkish universities under the scholarship program.

Moreover, it was announced that a new project is expected to launch in 2025, in which specialists from various state ministries will have the opportunity to study the work system of Turkish ministries and undergo a three-month qualification course in language learning.

During the meeting, it was suggested that Turkey could offer assistance in the field of protecting, preserving, and restoring cultural heritage sites in Uzbekistan, considering the country's rich historical and cultural heritage.

Yusufjon Usmonov expressed his support for the proposed initiatives, especially regarding the restoration and repair of cultural heritage sites, emphasizing the high demand for specialists in this field. He stressed that using Turkey's offer to train specialists in this area would be timely.

At the end of the meeting, both sides exchanged commemorative gifts.

The meeting was held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere.

For reference: The Directorate for Foreign Turks and Diaspora Communities of the Republic of Turkey is the largest organization in Turkey dealing with Turkish diaspora issues abroad, distributing scholarships for Turkish students and students from other countries for undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral studies, as well as monitoring projects and developing this field.