Kazan hosted the first-ever Congress of Ministers of Culture of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Thursday - the first such event to take place in Russia.
The congress, held under the theme "Dialogue of Cultures: The Basis for Preserving Identity and Diversity in a Multipolar World," was part of the XVI International Economic Forum "Russia � Islamic World: KazanForum," for which Anadolu is the global communication partner.
Delegations from Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, the UAE, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan took part in the event. Key international organizations, including the OIC, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and the Arab League, were also represented.
Russian Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova emphasized the significance of the congress, stating, "We have one big common goal ahead of us. Kazan is the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World 2026."
Kazan was officially awarded this title following a decision at the 13th Conference of Ministers of Culture of the Islamic World. In light of this, 12 major cultural events are scheduled to take place throughout 2026.
As part of KazanForum 2025, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov met with ministers of culture from OIC member states. The meeting was held at Kazan Expo on the sidelines of the forum.
Welcoming the delegates, Minnikhanov highlighted the importance of the congress within the broader context of the forum: "Such events bridge the gap between nations. We work in close coordination with ICESCO," he said.
Writing by Firdevs Yuksel
Reporting by Aysenur Saglam in Kazan, Tatarstan
Anadolu Agency