The Congress of the OIC Ministers of Culture Was Held at KazanForum for the First Time
The Congress of the OIC Ministers of Culture Was Held at KazanForum for the First Time
14 May
Kazan was the first city in Russia to host the Congress of the OIC Ministers of Culture. The Event was held within the framework of the XVI International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum”. The Congress of the OIC Ministers of Culture in Kazan brought together representatives of Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, the Sudan, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, as well as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) and the League of Arab States. The main topic of discussion was the dialogue of cultures as the basis for preserving identity and diversity in a multipolar world.
Olga Lyubimova, the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, opened the Congress by noting the huge potential of cultural co-operation between Russia and the countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
“Of course, today’s meeting is an important step that opens a new chapter in our co-operation and brings us closer to the implementation of new joint cultural projects between Russia and the Islamic world,” Olga Lyubimova declared.
She expressed hope for new meetings with foreign colleagues in Kazan, which was selected as the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World 2026 at the XIII Conference of Ministers of Culture of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Leyla Fazleeva, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan, also welcomed the participants of the Congress of the OIC Ministers of Culture. She noted that the Republic places special emphasis on culture.
“Being included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, Kazan is a city that is a symbol of interfaith dialogue. The Kul Sharif Mosque and the Annunciation Cathedral, standing side by side, remind each of us of centuries of mutual respect. It is no coincidence that Kazan was awarded the title of the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World 2026 as per the decision of the XIII Conference of Ministers of Culture of the Islamic World. This is a recognition of the role in preserving the heritage,” Leyla Fazleeva declared.
The Minister of Culture of Russia added that in modern geopolitical conditions, culture faces a responsible task.
“It is culture who can contribute to the improvement of the world situation and the achievement of a new level of global partnership. The Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, like our colleagues from the Islamic world, sees the solution to this problem in the preservation of traditional values and the education of respect for history,” said Olga Lyubimova. She recalled that Russia, as a multinational state, has a unique experience of building a respectful dialogue between representatives of all religions.
“Nowadays, Islamic countries are actively developing, gaining tangible achievements in trade and finance, in innovation and scientific and applied research. Russia is open to the widest possible business and humanitarian co-operation, is interested in strengthening established ties and finding new partners,” the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation claimed.
She drew attention to the fact that by virtue of a unified approach to establishing a dialogue of cultures, exchanges with the countries of the Islamic world in all spheres of art have intensified. Thus, in 2025, the “Russian Seasons” flagship project is being implemented for the first time in the countries of the Middle East – Oman and Bahrain – by the decision of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. Cultural events are also planned with Iran, Egypt, Morocco, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Tunisia, Indonesia. Unprecedented in scale exchanges are planned between the CIS countries – with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
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The International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum”, which was granted federal status in 2022 by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, is being held for the 16th time on 13-18 May 2025. The Programme includes 200 events such as a Congress of Ministers of Transport within the Islamic countries; a Congress of the OIC Ministers of Culture; a Congress of Prosecutors General within the Islamic countries; a Congress of Auditors within the Islamic countries; the world’s largest conference on Islamic finance; conferences on the halal industry; a forum of Chambers of Commerce and Industry within the Islamic countries; as well as international exhibitions on economy, trade, and real estate held over 40 thousand sq. m. Representatives from 103 countries registered to participate in 2025. In 2024, the Event gathered more than 20 thousand participants from 87 countries, 87 constituent subjects of the Russian Federation, along with more than 40 diplomatic missions.
Olga Lyubimova, the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, opened the Congress by noting the huge potential of cultural co-operation between Russia and the countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
“Of course, today’s meeting is an important step that opens a new chapter in our co-operation and brings us closer to the implementation of new joint cultural projects between Russia and the Islamic world,” Olga Lyubimova declared.
She expressed hope for new meetings with foreign colleagues in Kazan, which was selected as the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World 2026 at the XIII Conference of Ministers of Culture of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Leyla Fazleeva, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan, also welcomed the participants of the Congress of the OIC Ministers of Culture. She noted that the Republic places special emphasis on culture.
“Being included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, Kazan is a city that is a symbol of interfaith dialogue. The Kul Sharif Mosque and the Annunciation Cathedral, standing side by side, remind each of us of centuries of mutual respect. It is no coincidence that Kazan was awarded the title of the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World 2026 as per the decision of the XIII Conference of Ministers of Culture of the Islamic World. This is a recognition of the role in preserving the heritage,” Leyla Fazleeva declared.
The Minister of Culture of Russia added that in modern geopolitical conditions, culture faces a responsible task.
“It is culture who can contribute to the improvement of the world situation and the achievement of a new level of global partnership. The Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, like our colleagues from the Islamic world, sees the solution to this problem in the preservation of traditional values and the education of respect for history,” said Olga Lyubimova. She recalled that Russia, as a multinational state, has a unique experience of building a respectful dialogue between representatives of all religions.
“Nowadays, Islamic countries are actively developing, gaining tangible achievements in trade and finance, in innovation and scientific and applied research. Russia is open to the widest possible business and humanitarian co-operation, is interested in strengthening established ties and finding new partners,” the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation claimed.
She drew attention to the fact that by virtue of a unified approach to establishing a dialogue of cultures, exchanges with the countries of the Islamic world in all spheres of art have intensified. Thus, in 2025, the “Russian Seasons” flagship project is being implemented for the first time in the countries of the Middle East – Oman and Bahrain – by the decision of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. Cultural events are also planned with Iran, Egypt, Morocco, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Tunisia, Indonesia. Unprecedented in scale exchanges are planned between the CIS countries – with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
***
The International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum”, which was granted federal status in 2022 by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, is being held for the 16th time on 13-18 May 2025. The Programme includes 200 events such as a Congress of Ministers of Transport within the Islamic countries; a Congress of the OIC Ministers of Culture; a Congress of Prosecutors General within the Islamic countries; a Congress of Auditors within the Islamic countries; the world’s largest conference on Islamic finance; conferences on the halal industry; a forum of Chambers of Commerce and Industry within the Islamic countries; as well as international exhibitions on economy, trade, and real estate held over 40 thousand sq. m. Representatives from 103 countries registered to participate in 2025. In 2024, the Event gathered more than 20 thousand participants from 87 countries, 87 constituent subjects of the Russian Federation, along with more than 40 diplomatic missions.
