WORLD SUMMIT ON INVESTING IN CHILDREN’S WELLBEING AND SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON CHILDHOOD CANCER OPEN IN SAMARKAND

On 21 October 2026, the World Summit “Investing in Children’s Wellbeing: A Path to Sustainable and Equitable Development for Future Generations” and the Second International Congress on Childhood Cancer opened in Samarkand. Taking place on 21–22 October, the events bring together leading experts, medical professionals, representatives of international organisations and senior government officials from around the world.

At the opening ceremony, Sherzod Asadov, Head of the Communications Department of the Presidential Administration and Press Secretary to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, read out a welcome message from President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The opening ceremony brought together distinguished international representatives, including:

Khalilur Rahman — President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly;

• António Guterres — Secretary-General of the United Nations, whose welcome message was delivered by Sabine Machl, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan;
• Ziroat Mirziyoyeva — First Lady of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
• Amina Mohammed — United Nations Deputy Secretary-General (video message);
• Najat Maalla M’jid — United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children;
• Shakhnoza Mirziyoyeva — First Deputy Director of the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

High-Level Plenary Session

The official programme of the first high-level plenary session, entitled “Investing in Children at Scale”, listed representatives of several countries and international organisations:

• Emine Erdoğan — First Lady of the Republic of Türkiye;
• Aigul Japarova — First Lady of the Kyrgyz Republic;
• Tamara Vučić — First Lady of the Republic of Serbia (2017–2026);
• Nehmat Aoun — First Lady of the Lebanese Republic;
• Auxillia Mnangagwa — First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe;
• Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus — Director-General of the World Health Organization (video message);
• Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo — Executive Vice President of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital;
• Édouard Beigbeder — Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa, UNICEF;
• Aparnaa Somanathan — Regional Practice Director, Human Development, Europe and Central Asia, World Bank;
• Natalya Petkevich — Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus;
• Dilrabo Mansuri — Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan;
• Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed — President of the International Social Security Association (ISSA).

Throughout the day, thematic panel discussions and scientific sessions are being held on the development of paediatric oncology and haematology, improvements in cancer diagnosis and treatment, the introduction of advanced cell-based therapies, and the development of precision medicine and personalised approaches to treatment.

The Republican centre of the study of the public opinion “Ijtimoiy fikr” is represented at these international events by its Deputy Director for Digital Technologies and Innovation, Timur Ravilievich Muratov.