With the support of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in France, a Kazakh delegation led by Dr. Düken Mäsimkhanuly, Director of the R.B. Suleimenov Institute of Oriental Studies, held high-level talks with Laurent Hericher, Head of the Oriental Manuscripts Department at the National Library of France, TuraNews.kz reports.
The main agenda was to deepen the study of the Turkic world’s vast historical and cultural legacy from a new academic perspective.
The discussions took place within the framework of a major research project titled “The Early and Medieval History and Culture of the Turkic World Based on Unique Materials from the Vatican and European Countries.” The two sides explored the possibilities of accessing rare manuscripts and archival documents in Ottoman, Chagatai, Tatar, Turkic, and Persian. Particular attention was given to geographic maps and records from colonial-era expeditions, which may offer valuable insights into the lives and history of Turkic peoples.
The Kazakh delegation’s visit aimed to collect, systematize, and comparatively analyze historical sources preserved in European libraries. This effort is expected to breathe new life into Turkological studies and enrich the collective understanding of shared Turkic heritage.
During the meeting, Dr. Mäsimkhanuly presented the mission and history of the Institute of Oriental Studies, founded in 1996 by a government resolution and named after renowned orientalist R.B. Suleimenov. The institute is now regarded as a leading academic center in the fields of Oriental and Turkic studies in Kazakhstan.
The French side expressed strong interest in developing bilateral academic cooperation and welcomed Kazakhstan’s initiative. Such collaboration is seen as a significant step toward raising global awareness of the cultural and scientific legacy of the Turkic world.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties agreed to prepare and sign a Memorandum of Understanding covering joint research, academic exchanges, and expert mobility — a key milestone in expanding international scholarly efforts around Turkic history.
