The Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan proposed to establish the Fragi International Literary Award

The International Organization of Turkic Culture declared 2024 the Year of the great poet and thinker of the Turkic world Makhtumkuli Fragi, and his anniversary was included in the list of significant dates celebrated jointly with UNESCO in 2024-2025.

As part of the anniversary, an international conference dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of the thinker Makhtumkuli Fragi was held in Turkmenistan.

Along with the Ministers of Culture of 20 countries, the Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva took part in it. Speaking with a welcoming speech, Aida Balayeva stressed the important role of the poet's works for the younger generation and youth of the entire Eastern world.

"Today we see how dynamically our relations are developing and mutual creative work is underway in the cultural and humanitarian sphere.

Undoubtedly, this is all thanks to the efforts and personal trusting, friendly ties of the leaders of the two countries. The rich heritage of Makhtumkuli Fragi is becoming even more important for our peoples. As a symbol and pledge of friendship, respect of the Kazakh people for the poet and in his person for the entire fraternal Turkmen people, all necessary work is being carried out in the capital of our country to establish a monument to the outstanding thinker," the minister said, proposing to establish the Fragi International Literary Award.

Aida Balayeva called on her colleagues to promote the creativity of such personalities on a systematic basis, and through their creativity to integrate into the global cultural space.

Within the framework of the Conference, Aida Balayeva held bilateral meetings with the Minister of Culture of Turkmenistan Atageldy Shamuradov and the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia Zhanna Andreasyan, with whom she discussed issues of expanding cultural and humanitarian cooperation, as well as holding cross-cultural days of our countries.

On the same day, the Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan took part in the unveiling of the monument to the Turkmen poet Makhtumkuli Fragi.

The monumental monument, which is a 60-meter sculpture of the poet, became part of a new cultural and park complex that unites 24 statues of world-famous writers and poets from different countries and eras, including a monument to the great Kazakh kuishi composer Kurmangazy Sagyrbayuly, whose work was closely intertwined with the history and culture of the peoples of Central Asia.