On the occasion of Republic Day, a formal ceremony was held at the Library of Congress where the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United States, Yerzhan Ashikbayev, presented a collection of books dedicated to the culture, history, and literary heritage of Kazakhstan as a gift, DKnews.kz reports.
The event was attended by President of the “Qazaq Tili” International Society Rauan Kenzhekhanuly, former U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Richard Hoagland, President of the “Oxus Society” Edward Lemon, and other experts on Central Asia.
In his remarks, Ambassador Ashikbayev emphasized that books serve as bridges connecting cultures across distances.
“These works represent the richness of Kazakh culture, history, and literature. We hope they will inspire researchers and readers seeking to learn more about Kazakhstan and its traditions” Yerzhan Ashikbayev
The donated collection includes works by renowned Kazakh writers, as well as books reflecting the customs and cultural heritage of the country. The Library of Congress, being the largest library in the world, will preserve these unique materials, making them accessible to Central Asian researchers.
A key part of the ceremony was the presentation of the first Qazaq-English Oxford dictionary published with the support of the “Qazaq Tili” International Society. Rauan Kenzhekhanuly, President of the organization, highlighted that the dictionary will not only assist those studying the Kazakh language but also ensure its inclusion in the global linguistic community. This is a significant step in promoting and developing the Kazakh language on the international stage.
A representative from the Library of Congress expressed gratitude to Kazakhstan for the generous gift, underscoring that these books will become valuable resources for researchers of Central Asia. The collection will contribute to expanding knowledge about Kazakhstan within the international academic community.
