Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation

Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan

In modern international relations, the development of cultural contacts holds special significance. Culture—being a process of spiritual, creative, and intellectual exchange—performs an important communicative function by uniting different groups of people, countries, and nations. Today, culture is one of the pillars that uphold the foundation of the international relations system.

There is regular exchange of creative delegations and representatives of culture and arts between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

🎓 Scientific and Educational Cooperation

There is great potential for collaboration in the development of scientific contacts. Currently, museums in Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara house around 500 exhibits related to the life and traditions of the Kazakh people.

Cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere is based on the Intergovernmental Agreement on Deepening Cooperation in the Fields of Culture, Healthcare, Science, Education, Tourism, and Sports, signed on January 10, 1994.

Direct ties are maintained between academic and educational institutions of both countries through faculty and student exchanges and sharing of educational materials.

Universities in Uzbekistan have active cooperation agreements with over 50 Kazakhstani universities, including participation in academic councils, faculty/student exchange, and joint research and educational programs.

Productive interaction continues between the Academies of Sciences of both countries, particularly in the fields of chemistry and chemical technology, biology and biotechnology, biomedicine and pharmaceuticals, seismology and seismic dynamics, archaeology, and history.

Currently, 17,014 Uzbek students are studying in 97 universities across Kazakhstan in various disciplines.

🎭 Arts and Cultural Festivals

Representatives from Kazakhstan regularly participate in major international festivals held in Uzbekistan:

“Sharq Taronalari” in Samarkand,
“Maqom” in Shakhrisabz,
“Bakhshi” in Termez,
“Great Silk Road” in Margilan,
and “Hunarmand” in Kokand.

Uzbek filmmakers showcase their films at various film festivals held in Kazakhstan, including competition screenings and promotional premieres.

🇺🇿 Year of Uzbekistan in Kazakhstan (2018)

Over 90 cultural events were held throughout Kazakhstan, including:

5 concerts by Uzbek performing artists,
4 tours by Uzbek theatre troupes,
4 exhibitions of visual and applied arts,
1 folklore expedition,
Uzbek Cinema Days,
and Uzbek Culture Days in various Kazakh cities.

🇰🇿 Year of Kazakhstan in Uzbekistan (2019)

More than 80 cultural events took place, including:

Exhibitions and concerts by the Kazakh State Dance Ensemble "Saltanat",
The Kyzylorda Regional Philharmonic,
The Zhambyl Kazakh State Philharmonic,
National artist of Kazakhstan Roza Rymbayeva,
Tours of Astana Opera, Kostanay Regional Drama Theater, Kyzylorda Regional Drama Theater, Astana Ballet, and the Alakai Puppet Theater (Aktobe region),
Creative meetings with leading Kazakhstani artists.

🤝 Interethnic Relations and Diaspora

Uzbekistan has a Committee on Interethnic Relations and Friendly Ties with Foreign Countries, as well as a Council of Friendship Societies and Cultural-Educational Relations with Foreign Countries, comprising 138 national cultural centers and 34 friendship societies.

In Uzbekistan, 803,400 ethnic Kazakhs live (2.6% of the population).
In Kazakhstan, 500,000 ethnic Uzbeks reside (3% of the population).

In Uzbekistan:

400 schools provide education in the Kazakh language, including 162 schools with Kazakh as the sole language of instruction.
Universities such as Nizami Tashkent State Pedagogical University, Karakalpak State University, Gulistan State University, and pedagogical institutes in Nukus, Jizzakh, and Navoi have Kazakh Language and Literature departments offering training in both humanities and technical fields.

From 1991 to 2019, 630 ethnic Kazakhs from Uzbekistan (including 33 since 2016) received state honors. Since 1991, 23 citizens of Kazakhstan have received Uzbek awards, including Nursultan Nazarbayev (Orders "Buyuk xizmatlari uchun" and "El-yurt hurmati") and Askar Mamin (Order "Dostlik").

Since 1992, the Kazakh Cultural Center has been active in Uzbekistan, with around 30 regional branches, while 42 Uzbek ethnocultural associations operate in Kazakhstan.

🗓 Recent Cultural Events

2018: Numerous major events held across Kazakhstan as part of the Year of Uzbekistan.
2019: Over 75 events in Uzbekistan during the Year of Kazakhstan, including performances by A. Dnishev, R. Rymbayeva, M. Zhunussova, and D. Kudaibergen.
November 21–25, 2022: Uzbekistan Culture Days successfully held in Kazakhstan.
December 2022: First Youth Congress of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan held in Astana.
December 22, 2022: During President Tokayev’s state visit to Tashkent, a week dedicated to the legacy of Abai Kunanbayev was organized, including an exhibition.
June 22–23, 2023: With participation of “Kazakhconcert” named after Roza Baglanova, Kazakhstan Culture Days were held in Samarkand and Bukhara.

📚 Uzbek Diaspora in Kazakhstan

~500,000 Uzbeks reside in Kazakhstan.
Over 10 newspapers and journals are published in the Uzbek language.
10 literary and creative unions are active.
There are 2 Uzbek theaters.
139 Uzbek-language schools are operational (60 fully Uzbek, 79 mixed-language).

📘 Kazakh Diaspora in Uzbekistan

Over 800,000 ethnic Kazakhs live in Uzbekistan.
The Republican Kazakh Cultural Center operates with 30 regional branches.
In areas with large Kazakh populations, there are 370 mixed Kazakh-Uzbek secondary schools.
22 universities offer Kazakh Language and Literature bachelor's programs.