BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 21. Tthe International Conference on Turkology titled “The Legacy of the First Baku Turkology Congress and the Turkic World in the 21st Century” commenced its work in Almaty, one of Kazakhstan’s major cultural and scientific centers, at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.
The conference is organized jointly by the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, the Turkic Academy, TURKSOY, the Turkish Language Association, Baku State University, and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in accordance with the instruction on celebrating the 100th anniversary of the First Baku Turkological Congress, adopted within the framework of the 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), held on October 7, 2025, in Gabala.
TurkicWorld reports the main strategic significance of this large-scale scientific and cultural platform lies in rethinking the fundamental historical achievements of Turkology in the context of modern global and digital challenges, as well as strengthening institutional mechanisms of scientific integration among the Turkic states.
The conference opened with an address by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, His Excellency Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, which was delivered by Adviser to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. Malik Otarbayev.
Speaking as an honorary guest at the opening ceremony, President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, Professor Aktoty Raimkulova, emphasized that the First Turkological Congress, held in 1926 in the city of Baku, played a historic role in elevating the common language, history, culture, and spiritual heritage of the Turkic peoples to a new scientific level, while also laying a solid foundation for modern Turkic integration. The President of the Foundation noted that the consolidation of efforts by international organizations of the Turkic states in pursuit of shared spiritual goals, as well as the implementation of meaningful scientific and cultural projects, serves as a manifestation of the indestructible unity and scientific revival of the Turkic World.
Speaking at the event, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States Mr. Kubanychbek Omuraliev, President of the Turkic Academy Mr. Shahin Mustafayev, Secretary General of TÜRKSOY Mr. Sultan Raev, President of the Turkish Language Association Mr. Osman Mert, Rector of Baku State University Mr. Elchin Babayev, and Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Mr. Zhanseit Tuimebayev, highlighted the historical significance of the First Turkological Congress held in Baku in 1926.
The opening ceremony of the conference brought together heads of international organizations of the Turkic World, prominent scholars, representatives of the intelligentsia, public officials, and media representatives.
