Astana Conference Celebrates Chingiz Aitmatov’s 95th Anniversary
Kazakh Capital Hosts International Conference on 95th Anniversary of Renowned Kyrgyz Writer Chingiz Aitmatov
ASTANA – The National Academic Library in Astana and Auezov Institute of Literature and Art recently organized an international conference to commemorate the 95th anniversary of Chingiz Aitmatov, the esteemed writer and statesman from Kyrgyzstan. The event took place on Dec. 28 and attracted academics, creative figures, foreign diplomats, scientists, philologists, university professors, and students from Astana.
Chingiz Aitmatov is celebrated as a source of national pride for the Kyrgyz Republic and a cultural heritage for Central Asia. In addition to his literary contributions, Aitmatov also had a distinguished diplomatic career, as well as involvement in journalism and translation activities.
The conference also welcomed representatives from the National Library of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian State Library, the National Library of Russia, and the Margarita Rudomino All-Russian State Library for Foreign Literature.
In an interview with The Astana Times, Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to Kazakhstan Dastan Dyushekeyev emphasized the importance of fostering joint initiatives between the two countries, whether they are humanitarian, economic, or military in nature.
Aitmatov’s own diplomatic career included serving as head of the Soviet diplomatic mission in Luxembourg and as the Kyrgyz ambassador to the Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg) and France, where he also held the role of permanent representative to UNESCO and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He also served as an advisor to Mikhail Gorbachev, the only President of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
The renowned writer had a deep respect for the renowned Kazakh writer Mukhtar Auezov and maintained close friendly relations with other Kazakh contemporaries such as Kaltai Mukhamedzhanov, Mukhtar Shakhanov, Olzhas Suleimenov, Zeynolla Kabdolov, and Sherkhan Murtaza.
The National Library in Astana aims to constantly update its collection of literature in the Kyrgyz language with new publications from the Kyrgyz embassy and the National Library of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The conference served as a testament to the enduring legacy of Chingiz Aitmatov and the importance of fostering cultural exchange and cooperation between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
