Following a moment of silence and the national anthems, the opening program continued with a musical performance by the Pamukkale University Turkish Folk Music Ensemble Choir and Orchestra, followed by a show performed by the Pamukkale University Folk Dance Ensemble. During the opening speeches, video messages from the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Rector of the Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, Prof. Dr. Abdukhakimov Aziz Abdukaharovich, as well as the Rector of Samarkand State Medical University, Prof. Dr. Rızayev Jasur Alimdjanovich, were shown.

After the video messages, the program continued with the opening remarks of PAU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ersan Öz. Prof. Dr. Öz stated: “We are very happy to be together at the Symposium on the Transmission of Cultural Heritage to the International Turkic World. The previous leg of this symposium in the city of Samarkand involved significant contributions from our colleague Prof. Dr. Yasemin Beyazıt, as well as our Faculty of Medicine Dean and Vice Rector Prof. Dr. İbrahim Türkçüer. I thank them again. I also extend my gratitude to the President of Denizli Chamber of Commerce, Uğur Erdoğan, and Vice Chairman of Sadık Group, Oktay Mersin, who supported us as sponsors. I welcome all the scholars who joined us from Samarkand and thank our colleagues who hosted us there.”

Rector Güngör: “We must definitely pass this culture on to our youth.”

Pamukkale University Rector Prof. Dr. Mahmud Güngör said: “I would like to share my impressions from our visit to Uzbekistan. During the visit, being with the colleagues there felt as if I had been born and raised there and then come to Türkiye. I even thought about spending summers here after retirement. Later, I told the Consul General that we felt this way in just three days and asked if he had experienced the same feeling. He replied that he would soon leave and told his friends there the same. Over three days, we gave talks at three different universities, and each time we had truly remarkable conversations. We believe we must definitely pass this culture on to our youth. I am confident that this symposium will bring very important gains. I believe we will crown our cultural heritage transmission with this symposium and make significant decisions. Once again, welcome to all of you.”

Following the opening speeches, the symposium concluded with the presentation of certificates of appreciation to those who contributed to the event by Rector Prof. Dr. Mahmud Güngör. The three-day symposium program can be accessed in detail at https://www.pau.edu.tr/utdkm/tr/sayfa/sempozyum-takvimi-4.