Today is an important historic day for the Islamic world. I pray that the First International Islamic Civilization Forum will bring goodness and blessings to our peoples and to all humanity.

At the outset of my remarks, I would like to convey the greetings of His Excellency Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, to all participants of this forum.

Uzbekistan is one of the blessed lands favored by the Almighty. For centuries, it has served as a beacon of Islamic knowledge and enlightenment. Even during the most difficult periods of history, its people never allowed this light to be extinguished. The glory and reputation of Uzbekistan have long been renowned throughout the world. Today, in the New Uzbekistan, which has embarked upon the bright era of the Third Renaissance, the efforts led by His Excellency President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to promote scholarly research on Islam and its rich heritage are truly remarkable.

I am confident that the strong political will and profound vision of our two heads of state will ensure an even brighter future for our two brotherly nations.

Having studied in Uzbekistan, I have been familiar with the history of this land since my youth. Uzbekistan has long been a beacon of knowledge and learning for those who came from across the world in search of scholarship. It is the homeland of Imam Bukhari, whose unparalleled contributions to the science of Hadith earned him lasting recognition throughout the Muslim world. Today, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to His Excellency President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for establishing the magnificent Imam Bukhari Complex and founding the Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Center in honor of this great scholar.