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The Mayor of Nara, one of Japan’s most historic cities, Nakagawa Motonobu, visited the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, where he explored exhibitions that bring together the country’s centuries-old cultural heritage, rare manuscripts, and modern development achievements under one roof. The visit marked another significant expression of the sister-city relationship between Uzbekistan and Japan.

During his tour of the Center’s museum exhibitions, Mayor Nakagawa Motonobu noted that the complex is a unique cultural and educational institution that unites Uzbekistan’s historical memory, national values, and aspirations for modern development within a single concept.

“Four years ago, the city of Nara became a sister city of Samarkand. Our two countries are connected by the 1,300-year history of the Silk Road. This is my first visit to this newly established Center. Here, one can see not only Uzbekistan’s rich historical legacy but also its present and its future. Every time I visit Uzbekistan, I witness the country’s rapid development and transformation. The Center vividly reflects the spirit of preserving national values while striving for modern progress. Visiting this place has given me an even deeper understanding of the ambitious goals Uzbekistan has set for its future,” said the Mayor of Nara, Japan.

The sister-city relationship between Nara and Samarkand represents one of the key pillars of cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Uzbekistan and Japan. Both cities hold a distinguished place in the history of world civilization, renowned for their ancient statehood, architectural heritage, scientific achievements, and long-standing traditions of cultural exchange.

While Nara served as Japan’s political and cultural capital in the eighth century, Samarkand was, for centuries, one of the principal crossroads of the Great Silk Road, facilitating trade, scholarship, and cultural interaction between East and West.

In this context, the Mayor of Nara’s visit to the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan served as another testament to the shared commitment of both countries to strengthening their historical ties through contemporary cultural diplomacy, museum cooperation, and people-to-people dialogue.

At the conclusion of the visit, Mayor Nakagawa Motonobu highly praised the Center’s efforts to present its rich historical heritage through advanced technologies while preserving national values and passing them on to future generations.

He described the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan as an important cultural platform that presents the country’s centuries-old history to the international community in a modern, scholarly, and compelling manner.