TEHRAN – August 2026, The ECO Cultural Institute (ECI) has published the fourth issue of its newsletter, ECI Newsletter – August 2026, highlighting the Institute’s recent cultural, academic and diplomatic engagements and its ongoing efforts to promote cultural dialogue and cooperation across the ECO region.
In his message to readers, H.E. Ambassador Mohammad Hassan, President of the ECO Cultural Institute, underlined the growing role of ECI in bringing together the peoples, institutions and cultures of the region. He emphasized the importance of transforming the shared heritage of the ECO region into a living source of greater mutual understanding and closer cooperation among its peoples.
The August issue features a range of cultural and scholarly initiatives undertaken by the Institute, including the commemorative programme “The Image of Abai’s Thought through the Lens of ECO,” organized in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Iran. The programme brought together ambassadors, officials, scholars and researchers to explore the intellectual and cultural legacy of the renowned Kazakh thinker Abai Qunanbaiuly and its broader significance for the ECO region.
The newsletter also highlights the International Media Literacy Conference held at the ECO Cultural Institute, which brought together experts, media professionals and a delegation from Türkiye’s Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK). The conference addressed emerging challenges in the information age and explored the importance of media literacy, critical thinking and regional cooperation in responding to these challenges.
The issue further documents the Institute’s continued engagement with diplomatic, academic and cultural partners, including meetings with representatives of Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Hungary and Cuba, as well as an exchange with Afghan researcher and writer Dr. Sayed Askar Mousavi. These engagements focused on expanding cultural cooperation, knowledge exchange and opportunities for joint initiatives across the region.
Another highlight of the issue is the participation of the ECI President in the scientific conference “Rabia Balkhi – A Brilliant Figure of the Samanid Era,” held at the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in Tehran. The conference provided an opportunity to reflect on Rabia Balkhi’s enduring place within the shared literary and civilizational heritage of the region and the importance of bringing this heritage to wider audiences.
Through its latest issue, the ECI Newsletter reflects the Institute’s continued commitment to strengthening cultural ties, facilitating intellectual exchange and fostering people-to-people connections among the countries and communities of the ECO region.
The fourth issue of the ECO Cultural Institute Newsletter is now available for readers.
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