Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

On December 16, an international scientific conference on the topic “Literature of Asian Peoples: Traditions and Modern Tendencies” commenced at the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS).

Organized by the Nizami Ganjavi Institute of Literature of ANAS, the conference was held at the Central Scientific Library and attended by members of the ANAS Presidium, renowned scholars, literary, cultural, and scientific figures from countries such as Türkiye, Pakistan, China, India, South Korea, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and others, as well as representatives of the media.

Before the conference, participants visited an exhibition featuring publications on the literature of Asian peoples, published by ANAS.

In his opening speech, the President of ANAS, Academician Isa Habibbeyli emphasized that today’s conference holds historical significance as the first international scientific conference held in Baku dedicated to the literature of Asian countries.

Highlighting that during the period of the former Soviet Union, the literature, culture, and politics of Western countries were studied more, Academician Isa Habibbeyli noted that during that time this led to a gap in the public opinion regarding Asia. He pointed out that since the restoration of Azerbaijan’s state independence, a series of studies on Asian countries have been conducted in our country.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli noted that a department for studying Asian literature has been established at ANAS for this purpose. He also mentioned the establishment of several centers at the Institute of Literature, including the China Center, the Pakistan Literature Center, the Mehmet Akif Ersoy Center, the Alisher Navoi Center for Literary Studies, and the Makhtumkuli Fragi Turkmen Literature Center. While all these focus on Asian countries, research on Western literature continues at the Academy as well, and scholars are also showing interest in studying African literature.

The ANAS president highlighted the existence of the Department of World Literature and Comparative Studies at the Institute of Literature, where research is conducted on Western, European, and American literatures. Additionally, he mentioned the operations of the Department of Turkic Peoples’ Literature at the Institute of Literature and the Department of Central Asian Countries at the Institute of Oriental Studies.

The head of ANAS reminded that, in recent days, as part of the 950th anniversary of one of the most valuable books of the Turkic world, Mahmud Kashgari’s famous Dîvânu Lugâti’t-Türk, a presentation of this book, published by ANAS in Azerbaijani in three volumes, was held at UNESCO headquarters. According to him, this event holds great significance both in terms of promoting the literature of Asian peoples at the UNESCO level and in terms of presenting the Academy’s publication at this influential organization.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli also spoke about ANAS’s international relations, noting that cooperation agreement has been signed between ANAS and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Nizami Ganjavi Institute of Literature and the Pakistan Academy of Letters, as well as agreements between ANAS and Türkiye’s Atatürk Supreme Council for Culture, Language, and History and the Turkish Academy of Sciences. The scholar noted that ANAS collaborates with numerous universities of Türkiye, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan and is also interested in establishing ties with relevant organizations in Vietnam.

The academician mentioned that in recent years, ANAS has become a member of such influential scientific organizations as the International Science Council (ISC), the Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia (AASSA), the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP), and the Eurasian Universities Union (EURAS). He also recalled that he participated in and delivered a speech at the General Assembly meeting of the Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia, held in Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

In conclusion, the President of ANAS emphasized the importance of the conference in promoting Azerbaijani literature, culture, and the country itself to Asian peoples, as well as fostering closer connections with researchers in these fields and forming future joint projects. Academician Isa Habibbeyli highlighted that today’s conference, serving as a platform for establishing new contacts and friendships, forming collaborations, and deepening scientific relations, also has the potential to create a synthesis of Eurasia.

Later, President of AASSA, Professor Ahmet Nuri Yurdusev, the President of the Pakistan Academy of Letters, Professor Najeeba Arif, the Acting Director of the Literature Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Professor Lu Yusong, a representative of Hanoi University in Vietnam, Nguyen Van Chien, the Head of the Department of Literary Studies at Fergana State University in Uzbekistan, Professor Manzura Jurayeva, a representative of Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University in Kazakhstan, Janakul Sametova, an associate professor from the Department of Foreign Languages at Jamia Millia Islamia University in India, Noushad, the attaché of the Embassy of Japan to Azerbaijan, Iwasaki Takamasa, and the honorary consul of Mongolia to Azerbaijan, Konul Alizade, delivered speeches at the event underlining that the conference would contribute to the expansion of scientific relations among Asian countries.

Professor Bang Min-Ho from the Department of Korean Language and Literature at Seoul National University of South Korea, Professor Lu Yusong, the Acting Director of the Literature Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Professor Bedirkhan Ahmadli, Head of the Azerbaijani-Asian Literary Relations Department at the Nizami Ganjavi Institute of Literature of ANAS also delivered presentations at the conference.

The event continued its work in sections such as “Literature of Turkic Peoples’, ‘Comparative Literary Studies”, “Literature of East Asian Peoples” and “Literature of South Asian Peoples”.

The international event will conclude its work on December 18.

Reyhan Majidli, Public Relations, Press and Information Department of the Presidium Administration of ANAS

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