Saudi Gazette report

SAMARKAND — Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah met with Minister of Culture of Uzbekistan Ozodbek Nazarbekov on the sidelines of the 43rd UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Prince Badr congratulated Uzbekistan on successfully hosting the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, commending the country’s active engagement in global cultural dialogue. He also praised Uzbekistan’s distinguished participation in the Riyadh International Book Fair, showcasing the diversity of Uzbek craftsmanship and creative expression.

During the meeting, the ministers emphasized their shared commitment to advancing collaboration in cultural exchange, heritage preservation, and the creative industries. The ministers also welcomed the ongoing collaboration between the Diriyah Biennale Foundation and the Bukhara Biennale of Contemporary Art, which featured the Diriyah Biennale’s winning design from its AlMusalla Prize.

Prince Badr also met with Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation Gayane Umerova. The minister commended the successful organization of the Bukhara Biennale of Contemporary Art, a remarkable cultural event that bridges a vast historical legacy with modern artistic expression, underscoring the vital role of art in advancing intercultural dialogue.

Both sides reviewed ongoing cooperation and explored new avenues for deepening cultural relations between Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan. Prince Badr highlighted the growing partnership between the two nations in heritage preservation, artistic exchange, and cross-cultural collaboration.

He praised Uzbekistan’s active participation as Guest of Honor at the Riyadh International Book Fair 2025 and commended its valuable contributions to the Islamic Arts Biennale in 2023 and 2025 through the loan of significant Islamic art artifacts. He also recalled the presentation of the Musalla design during the first edition of the Bukhara Biennale of Contemporary Art, describing it as a symbol of creative exchange and cultural understanding between the two nations.