Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - In order to promote the tourism potential and strengthen the positive image of Uzbekistan by preparing videos on French TV channels, the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Tourism Development with the French production company B-Tween worked out the issue of preparing a documentary about Uzbekistan titled Silk Road for the Paris Premiere television channel starring the famous French actor Gerard Depardieu.

The famous French actor Gerard Depardieu arrived in Tashkent to shoot a documentary about Uzbekistan. The actor visited the Center for Islamic Civilization and got acquainted with the progress of its construction.

Depardieu also talked with the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Aziz Abdukhakimov, Director of the Center for Islamic Civilization Shoazim Minovarov and Director General of the Uzbekkino agency Firdavs Abdukhalikov. At the meeting, the French actor noted the importance of the initiatives of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to convey to the wide world public the truly humanistic essence of Islam.

“I share the position of the President of your country, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who initiated the creation of this center. In your country they honor this sacred religion as the center of humanistic values, and condemn those who put this great faith on a par with violence and bloodshed. I fully share this approach. Many experts today say that Uzbekistan is laying the foundations of a humanistic development model for the Muslim world. These are truly historical moments, ”said Depardieu.

The actor emphasized that from time immemorial Uzbekistan has been the land that gives birth to ingenious thinkers of scientists and theologians. “Since the VIII century, a unique intellectual environment has been created here. Impressive successes were achieved in such fields as mathematics, medicine, science in general. No less attention was paid to theology. The most authoritative collection of hadiths - the sayings of the Prophet - was compiled by Imam Muhammad al-Bukhari. The largest Sufi order of Naqshbandi (originated in the territory of modern Uzbekistan - approx. Ed.) Was distributed throughout Eurasia - from the Balkans to Indonesia.

Many of the prominent scientists lived in Maverannahr, in the frequency in Uzbekistan in the IX-XI centuries - the "golden age" of Islamic science. Not a single country in the European world could boast of such a scientific center. Is this not the clearest indicator that Islam was the bearer of the ideas of enlightenment?” - said Depardieu.

Speaking about the Center for Islamic Civilization under construction, the actor expressed confidence that he will contribute to the preservation, study and dissemination of the rich heritage of the peoples professing Islam and maintaining respect for other religions. The actor also expressed admiration for the hospitality of the Uzbek people and the rich historical and cultural heritage of Uzbekistan. “Uzbekistan has been granted a truly unique geographical location. Being in the very heart of Asia, its land accumulated many cultural traditions from the outside, and at the same time, transmitted its own experience to the outside world,” Depardieu said.

In conclusion, he added that the theme of Islamic heritage, enlightened Islam will be one of the main topics in the film, on which work has begun in Uzbekistan. “Our task is to show both the French audience and the whole world the true face of Islam - its culture, science, art,” the actor emphasized.

It should be noted that the organizers of filming a documentary with Gerard Depardieu are the Uzbekkino, the State Committee for Tourism Development, and the Embassy of Uzbekistan in France. The film will be shot in 5 cities of Uzbekistan - Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Termez, as well as in Nukus. Filming in Uzbekistan will be held from November 6 to 26 of this year.

It is worth noting that the screening of a documentary about our country with the participation of a famous French actor on one of the popular channels in France will help familiarize the French public with the cultural and historical heritage and traditions of the Uzbek people.