The First Uzbek-Spanish Literature Festival was held at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy

On December 19 2022, the University of World Economy and Diplomacy held a roundtable discussion with Javier Moro, one of the most acclaimed and widely read Spanish novelists all over the world whose books were translated into 22 languages. The event was co-organized by the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, the Embassy of Spain in Uzbekistan and the Union of Writers of Uzbekistan.

Javier Moro has written extensively on social and environmental issues in his books, namely Senderos de Libertad, The Mountains of the Buddha, Five past midnight in Bhopal as well as on India Passion India and The Red Sari. In 2015 one of his masterpieces - A flor de piel (Under the skin), achieved a new success in time of pandemic. The book illustrates the tale of the Spanish expedition which delivered the newly discovered smallpox vaccine to the New World. In 2011, he received the Premio Planeta, the most prestigious award in Spanish literature, for his book "El imperio eres tú", about the emperor of Brazil Pedro I.

In this meeting, there were other distinguished foreign and local guests and intellectuals, such as the chargé d'affaires of Spain in Uzbekistan Gonzalo Fournier, Chairman of the Union of Writers of Uzbekistan Sirojiddin Sayyid, Editor-in-Chief of the "World Literature" magazine Ahmadjon Meliboev, Editor-in-Chief of the "Literature and Art of Uzbekistan" newspaper Salim Ashur and people’s writer Muhammad Ali. Furthermore, UWED lecturer Khilola Rozieva presented her book on Uzbek national fairy tales translated into Spanish.

During the meeting, distinguished participants discussed the current state and prospects of Uzbekistan-Spain relations in the field of culture and education. At the end of the meeting, the parties expressed their readiness to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.