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An international conference dedicated to the 690th anniversary of the birth of the great statesman, brilliant military commander, founder of a powerful empire, and one of the greatest figures in world history, Amir Temur, was held at the prestigious Casa Árabe cultural center in Madrid.

The event was attended and addressed by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Kingdom of Spain Farrukh Tursunov, Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and People’s Writer of Uzbekistan Khayriddin Sultanov, Director of the Islamic Civilization Center of Uzbekistan and Chairman of the Board of the World Society for the Study, Preservation and Popularization of the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan (WOSCU) Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the State Museum of Temurid History Khurshid Fayziyev, Secretary General of the Spanish Association of Orientalists and Professor at the Center for Asian Studies of the Autonomous University of Madrid Jesús Gil Fuensanta, President of the Timurid Association Frederic Bressand, President of Mueller & Schindler Charlotte Kramer, and Vice President of Mueller & Schindler Alexander Wilhelm.

The academic and educational forum became an important continuation of the large-scale jubilee celebrations initiated by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. In accordance with the President’s decree on worthy celebration of the 690th anniversary of Amir Temur, this important date is being commemorated in Uzbekistan at the highest national and international levels, and the month of April was declared the Month of Amir Temur.

The international jubilee celebrations began magnificently in Uzbekistan. From April 8 to 12, 2026, an international scientific and practical conference dedicated to the role and significance of Amir Temur and the Timurid civilization in world history and culture was held in Tashkent and Samarkand.

The fact that the forum was held in Spain — the homeland of the famous Spanish ambassador and chronicler Ruy González de Clavijo, who visited Samarkand and left invaluable information about Amir Temur’s reign — added even greater historical depth to the event. His works are rightfully considered among the most important sources on the history of Amir Temur and the Timurid era, and the forum became a symbolic continuation of the centuries-long dialogue between East and West.

More than 70 representatives of the academic community, researchers, cultural figures, diplomats, and specialists from Asia, the European Union, and Latin America participated in the forum, confirming the high level of international interest in the legacy of Amir Temur and the Timurid era.

The opening ceremony was led by Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Spain, Farrukh Tursunov, who emphasized the dynamic development of Uzbek-Spanish relations and the deepening of humanitarian cooperation.

People’s Writer of Uzbekistan Khayriddin Sultanov delivered the keynote speech, highlighting the particular importance of strengthening trust and dialogue between states in the current geopolitical environment. He noted that Uzbekistan consistently pursues an open and peace-oriented foreign policy and that cultural and humanitarian cooperation is becoming an increasingly important pillar of international relations.

During the forum, a video presentation about the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan was shown, demonstrating the large-scale efforts being undertaken to study, preserve, and promote the national heritage.

Firdavs Abdukhalikov presented the activities of the Center established at the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan and emphasized the significance of the Timurid legacy. He noted the existence of a separate large-scale exhibition dedicated to this era, revealing its contribution to the development of science, culture, art, and statehood. It was also announced that nearly 2,000 cultural heritage objects related to the Timurid era had been returned to Uzbekistan.

In his speech, Khurshid Fayziyev emphasized the global historical significance of Amir Temur and the contribution of the Timurid era to the development of world civilization.

Multimedia materials interpreted in a modern artistic style vividly revealed the richness of the cultural and scientific heritage and demonstrated Uzbekistan’s systematic state policy aimed at preserving and promoting it.

The international conference in Madrid became yet another confirmation that the celebration of the 690th anniversary of Amir Temur has acquired a truly global scale and serves to strengthen cultural ties and develop international cooperation.

International participants of the forum also highly praised the event.

President of the Timurid Association Frederic Bressand emphasized the importance of such initiatives:

“Such projects allow the younger generation to gain a deeper understanding of their history and view it within the broader context of the region’s centuries-long development. This is important both for the citizens of the country and for the international audience, as it reveals the cultural richness of Uzbekistan and the whole of Central Asia.”

Secretary General of the Spanish Association of Orientalists Jesús Gil Fuensanta stated:

“The initiatives implemented by the Government of Uzbekistan play an important role in promoting the country’s rich cultural heritage.

According to him, such events provide a wide international audience with access to the unique heritage of the Timurid era — from magnificent architectural monuments to great written sources such as the ‘Zafarnama’ and the ‘Baburnama,’ as well as the poetry and multifaceted cultural traditions of the region.”

Today, the name of Amir Temur resonates with particular strength as a symbol of state power, strategic genius, and cultural creativity. The holding of the forum in Spain, historically associated with the name of Clavijo, gave the event special significance and emphasized the continuity of the dialogue between East and West that has continued for centuries and remains relevant to this day.