On September 21, 2026, Zhusup Balasagyn Kyrgyz National University (KNU) hosted a student scientific and practical conference titled «The Legacy of Balasagyn -A Spiritual Bridge on the Path of Development for the Youth of the Turkic World,» timed to coincide with Zhusup Balasagyn Day.
The event gathered students from higher education institutions across the Turkic world, representatives of the Youth Council of the Turkic World in Kyrgyzstan, the Youth Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic, and the Youth Department of the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Professor Dogdurbek Chontoev, Rector of KNU, opened the conference and emphasized that September 21 is a significant date for the National University. He highlighted that the university, which proudly bears the great thinker’s name, consistently works to honor and pass on his spiritual heritage to future generations. The Rector noted that the epic poem Kutadgu Bilig (Wisdom of Royal Glory) retains its scientific, educational, and philosophical relevance to this day. He expressed confidence that the sharp insights and research presented by the youth at the conference would make a major contribution to developing cultural ties across the Turkic world.
Baktygul Kalambekova, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kyrgyz Republic, attended as a special guest. She commended the initiatives of the young participants aiming to preserve Balasagyn’s legacy and expressed strong faith in the creative and scientific pursuits of the next generation.
Welcoming remarks were also delivered by Bektursun Sydykov, representative of the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic; Azer Allahveranov, Secretary-General of the NGO Platform of the Member States of the Organization of Turkic States (via video link); and representatives of youth organizations from Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Kazakhstan.
During the conference, young researchers from Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Northern Cyprus presented scientific reports exploring the core ideological meaning of Zhusup Balasagyn’s works. Participants discussed profound philosophical thoughts, moral teachings, and universal human values embedded in his writing. Kutadgu Bilig was highlighted as a landmark work containing vital historical, ethnographic, linguistic, and sociological data essential for studying the cultural heritage of the Turkic world.
The youth event continued with an excursion to the Burana Tower archaeological and architectural museum complex in the Chuy Region, a site directly connected to the history of Zhusup Balasagyn, who was born in the 11th century in the city of Balasagyn.
The conference was organized by the Department of Turkology and Translation Studies of the Faculty of Kyrgyz Philology at Zhusup Balasagyn Kyrgyz National University, in cooperation with the Youth Organization of the Turkic World in Kyrgyzstan.
