Diplomacy has long extended beyond embassy walls and formal negotiations. It also lives through personal encounters, the exchange of books and conversations that help countries understand one another more deeply. In London, our publisher and founder of Silk Road Media, Marat Akhmedjanov, met Dr Mohammad Faisal, an experienced Pakistani diplomat who served as High Commissioner
Buenos Aires, 15 September 2026. The second screening of the historical drama Kurmanjan Datka: Queen of the Mountains took place at the welcoming atmosphere of Chaijana Restaurant, bringing together an audience interested in history, culture and the remarkable diversity of Central Asia. The event was organised by the Eurasian Creative Guild (ECG), represented in Latin
In autumn 2014, the first World Nomad Games were held on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan. A new international project was taking its first steps, and no one yet knew what the future would hold. OCA Magazine, published in London since 2009, became a media partner of the inaugural Games. We dedicated the
Until recently, Central Asia remained one of the least familiar regions of the world for most people in Latin America. If the names Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, or Uzbekistan were known at all, they were usually associated with geography, sports, or occasional news headlines. Today, that is beginning to change. Growing trade and economic ties, new international
On Friday, 7 August 2026, the Eurasian Creative Guild (ECG), with the support of the Yunus Emre Institute – Buenos Aires, hosted a special screening of the acclaimed Kyrgyz historical film Kurmanjan Datka: Queen of the Mountains. The cultural event brought together representatives of Buenos Aires’ creative, cultural and international communities for an evening dedicated
When discussing the international careers of Argentine footballers and coaches, attention usually turns to Europe, Mexico, the United States, or the Middle East. Yet in recent years, another destination has been steadily emerging on Argentina’s football map: Central Asia. As of August 2026, at least seven Argentine players and coaches are working in professional clubs
During his visit to Buenos Aires, British publisher and Patron of the Eurasian Creative Guild (ECG) Marat Akhmedjanov met with renowned Argentine translator and literary scholar Alejandro Ariel González, one of the world’s leading Spanish-speaking experts on Russian literature. Alejandro González is the founder and President of the Argentine Dostoevsky Society, serves on the board
Is this the Asian century in higher education? On the numbers alone, it may well be. More than half of the world’s university students are already in Asia, and that share is set to grow as ageing industrialised democracies give way demographically to younger populations in countries such as India, Indonesia, and across Central Asia.
THE SILK ROAD’S NEW REALITY In 2013, China’s newly nominated President Xi Jinping gave a much-heeded speech in Astana, Kazakhstan’s brushed-up capital. His main concern focused on nothing less than how to invigorate the ancient Silk Roads, “in order to promote people-to-people friendship”. After eleven years, in 2024, jointly with Kazakhstan’s President Tokayev, Xi Jinping
Music truly knows no borders. During his visit to Paraguay, Marat Akhmedjanov, the founder of the British publishing house Hertfordshire Press and patron of the Eurasian Creative Guild (London), had the pleasure of meeting one of the country’s most distinguished musicians and one of the leading figures in Latin American classical music, Maestro Diego Sánchez
The Third International Uyghur Forum was held in Berlin from 11 to 13 June 2026, bringing together Uyghur scholars, writers, human rights advocates, policymakers, and representatives of Uyghur organizations from around the world. The event was organized by the World Uyghur Congress and the Uyghur Center for Democracy and Human Rights. Representing Uyghur PEN, renowned
One of the most memorable events of my Latin American journey was the meeting with Paraguay’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, in the capital city of Asunción. Ramírez Lezcano is one of the country’s most influential diplomats and has served as Paraguay’s Foreign Minister since 2023. This visit became my first official trip
The participation of Uzbekistan’s national football team in the FIFA World Cup is not only a historic sports achievement but also an effective instrument for promoting the country internationally, showcasing its tourism potential, cultural heritage, and national brand on the global stage, according to the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan’s appearance on the world stage
The first concert of Aseman band and the come-back of its establisher Arash Barez took place in Paris on June 5, introducing Afghanistan music to Europe. Aseman is a multicultural ensemble formed by distinguished artists from Afghanistan and Japan, who live in Paris, created to bring Afghan music (silenced in the only country where music
In recent years, the international film industry has increasingly talked about diversity, cultural multiplicity, and the need for new voices. However, in reality, the global screen remains quite hierarchical: some countries are automatically considered “providers of great cinema,” while others are still relegated to the cultural periphery. When Western audiences hear about films from Central
When we watch a cult movie, we usually remember the actors, the director, or the studio behind it. But behind every great film stands an entire team of professionals without whom real cinema simply could not exist. A few years ago in Hollywood, I had the chance to meet exactly such people. In this photo
On May 18, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in the Leaders’ Summit held as part of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum in Baku. At the forum, participants discussed sustainable urban development, expanding access to affordable housing, improving the quality of the urban environment, strengthening climate resilience, and enhancing housing finance
Buenos Aires once again reminded me how important personal meetings remain today. Especially when the conversation is not only about diplomacy, but also about culture, books and human connections between continents. It was a great pleasure to meet with Yulia Ilyina, Chargé d’Affaires of the Republic of Belarus in Argentina, who is actively involved in
Uzbek cuisine in Latin America. Who would have thought it was even possible? Some would say, “Uzbeks are everywhere.” Others would shrug, “Who needs it there?” I’ve always been on the side of the first. But to my surprise, Uzbek cuisine had been almost absent across the entire American continent, home to nearly 700 million
In March, as part of a tour of Latin America, Marat Akhmedjanov, the founder of the British publishing house Hertfordshire Press and the Eurasian Creative Guild (London), had an important meeting in Montevideo with the Ambassador of Armenia to Uruguay, Mariam Gevorgyan. The conversation was lively and to the point, focused on real opportunities and