The 1st International Turkic World Traditional Music and Cultural Identity Symposium was of great importance in terms of understanding the spiritual memory, self-awareness process and cultural continuity of our peoples.

It was stated by the head of the staff of the Turkish Culture and Heritage Foundation, Doctor of Historical Sciences Fakhri Hajiyev, while reciting the text addressed to the event by the President of the Turkish Culture and Heritage Foundation Aktoti Raimkulova at the 1^st International Turkic World Traditional Music and Cultural Identity Symposium.

He noted that this scientific platform, organized by the ANAS Institute of Folklore, played an important role in the study of the cultural heritage and traditional music of the Turkic world.

Speaking about the Foundation’s areas of activity, Fakhri Hajiyev said that the main task of the Turkish Culture and Heritage Foundation was to research, protect and promote the rich cultural heritage of the Turkic world at the international level. The Foundation’s priorities include researching traditional music families, digitizing and archiving them, building bridges among generations of performers and increasing young people’s interest in this heritage. He also spoke about the international cooperation relations among the Folklore Institute and the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation that had been developing over the past year and provided information about the joint projects being implemented, mentioning the importance of the existing partnership.

The scientist expressed his confidence that the symposium would create conditions for the exchange of scientific ideas, the study of the cultural and social functions of traditional music and the formation of new research directions.

Expressing gratitude to the Institute of Folklore for organizing the event, Fakhri Hajiyev mentioned that such initiatives serving Turkic culture strengthen our unity and further strengthen our national identity.