On August 26, 2019, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended the opening ceremony of the 12th Sharq Taronalari International Music Festival and delivered a speech.

Uzbekistan’s leader greeted the guests and congratulated the audience on the opening of the festival. The Head of the state noted that the event has turned into a stage for dialogue among diverse cultures and civilizations, countries and peoples, and that each artist, performing on the splendid scene at the majestic Registan Square, glorifies the high ideals of humanism that unite people regardless of their ethnic origin, language or religion.

“Music as a phenomenon of art has great opportunities for comprehensive upbringing of the growing generation. Young people involved in this art begin to have a distinct attitude to life, respect national and universal values”, the President insisted.

Speaking after Uzbekistan’s President, the UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay noted that Samarkand embodies the magnitude of the great state of Amir Temur, while the Registan Square reflects the heyday of Mirzo Ulugbek. This legacy has attracted scientists, artisans and artists for centuries. The distinguished guest emphasized that the preservation of the universal heritage, the development of musical art as a universal language of intercultural dialogue is part of UNESCO’s mission, and that the organization seeks to develop full-scale cooperation with Uzbekistan in this direction.

The ceremony was also attended by officials and honored guests from the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Bangladesh, Poland, Belarus, Japan, South Korea, Great Britain and other countries.

This year’s festival is attended by 340 artists from 75 countries. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev called them true devotees of art, ambassadors of peace and friendship.

Within the framework of the festival, an international academic and practical conference took place, entitled “Prospects for the development of traditional musical art of the peoples of the East”.