Astana, 8 July 2026 – The "CICA Talks: History and Heritage of Asia" lecture series continued with its second event, providing diplomatic corps in Astana with a platform to explore the Asian region's rich history through expert-led lectures. Hosted at the CICA Headquarters, lecture featured a presentation by Dr. Zaynolla Samashev, a leading Kazakhstani archaeologist, Doctor of Historical Sciences and founder of the Astana branch of the Margulan Institute of Archaeology.
Opening the lecture, CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay emphasized that this initiative, launched in May as part of a broader series of events commemorating the 20th anniversary of the CICA Secretariat, is united with other Secretariat’s activities by a single purpose to build trust and strengthen dialogue.
In this regard, he noted that while the era of ancient empires and early states has long evolved into the modern international system, the fundamental pursuit of peace, stability and cooperation remains as unifying force for the region today. Secretary General Sarybay stressed that learning from the past helps diplomats better understand the common values that continue to shape regional diplomacy.
During the lecture, Dr. Zaynolla Samashev presented key findings from his research group’s excavations at the 8th-century Eleke Sazy cult-memorial complex in East Kazakhstan. He explained that the layout and architectural scale of the complex provide archaeological proof of a developed state system. The site closely mirrors the famous imperial monuments discovered along the Orkhon River (in present-day Mongolia), which underscores a unified political tradition and structural continuity across the Turkic Khaganate.
The presentation focused on the organization of this memorial complex that confirms the supreme status of the ruler. Dr. Samashev demonstrated that the elite artifacts found at the site, such as gold imperial emblems with the Khagan’s image, served as official state symbols to reinforce the ruler's political legitimacy and divine mandate.
The lecture further transitioned into a Q&A session with the diplomatic audience, reflecting the event's aim to encourage meaningful discussions through direct engagement with leading historians, researchers and experts to complement diplomatic work with broader cultural and historical perspectives. During the exchange, participants discussed development of academic contacts and networks between research institutes across nations.
Dr. Samashev outlined different formats for cross-border scientific interaction. He specifically noted the sponsorship funding provided by international organizations for certain joint research projects. This collaborative dynamic reflects with CICA's core vision of building bridges and establishing multifaceted ties between Member States and regional organizations across various fields of mutual interest.
