Accepting the credentials of the permanent representative, the OIC Secretary General congratulated him on assuming the office and wished him success in carrying out his responsible mission.
The current state and prospects of cooperation between Uzbekistan and OIC were discussed during the meeting. The sides also expressed mutual interest in intensifying interaction in such important areas as education, support for youth and innovations.
The OIC Secretary General noted Uzbekistan's significant contribution to the development of Islamic civilization, science and culture, stressing that the country has historically been the center of scientific discoveries, philosophical thought and spiritual heritage of the Islamic world. It was also emphasized that today Uzbekistan continues to play an important role in strengthening the unity of the Islamic Ummah, promoting initiatives aimed at sustainable development, education and preservation of cultural heritage, which makes it one of the key partners in implementing the goals of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
It is worth recalling that Nodirjon Turgunov arrived in Riyadh in March 2024 as the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Saudi Arabia.
He served as Consul General in the city of Jeddah from 2021 to 2024.
He has been in the system of the MFA since 2016. He worked in various positions in the Consular and Legal Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2019-2021 he served as Consul General of Uzbekistan in the city of Aktau (Kazakhstan), in 2021-2024 - in the city of Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).
He speaks Arabic and Russian.
Nodirjon Turgunov replaced Ulugbek Maksudov, who served from 2018-2024 as the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Saudi Arabia and permanent representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, headquartered in the city of Jeddah.
The third plenary session of the International Media Forum “Islamic Civilization: A New Perspective – New Discoveries” was held today at the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan under the theme “Heritage That Unites Centuries: The Spiritual Meanings of Islamic Civilization,” reports Dunyo IA.
The session featured international projects dedicated to Quranic heritage, ancient manuscripts, Islamic calligraphy, documentary filmmaking and the use of artificial intelligence in the study of historical sources.
In particular, participants were presented with the projects “114 Qurans: 114 Masterpieces of Islamic World Calligraphy,” “The Kattalangar Quran: Truth and Legends,” “The 99 Names of Allah: Knowing the Almighty Through His Beautiful Names,” and “Artificial Intelligence – A Digital Key to Reading Ancient Manuscripts,” as well as the film “The Mosque” from the “Pages of a Shared Historical Heritage” project.
Particular attention was devoted to the role of the media in overcoming stereotypes and Islamophobia. The international discussion brought together representatives of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and leading media outlets from Algeria, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Mali and Uzbekistan.
The session concluded with the announcement of a World Calligraphers Competition to create a unique Quran bringing together the traditions of different countries and schools of Islamic calligraphy.
The Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan serves as the main venue of the International Media Forum. The event brings together around 300 representatives of the media and expert communities from nearly 50 countries, including heads of media companies, news agencies and television channels, journalists, producers, scholars and creative industry professionals.