A two-day event was launched in the western city of Herat on Wednesday on the 580th birth anniversary of prominent philosopher, poet and writer Amir Ali-Shir Nava'i.

Envoys from seven countries, including Turkey, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Iran have attended the event that discusses the legacy of the ancient poet.

Nava'i was born in Afghanistan’s Herat province in 1441. He died in 1501. 

During his lifetime, Herat was under the rule of the Timurid Empire and it became one of the leading cultural and intellectual centers in the Muslim world.

Nava’i was one of the leading writers and intellectuals of his time. There are about 370 works of his that are still in existence today. He also had a great command of languages including Turkish, Uzbek and Persian.

Navai, as one of the great intellectuals, was an icon of mysticism and politics during the Timurid Empire and the Khorasan dynasty.

President Ghani in a recorded message that was aired at the event emphasized the need for strengthening cultural ties between countries in the region and said it will bring nations closer.

“The role of regional cooperation with the focus on cultural and economic ties and proud thoughts that were pro-peace will lead us towards an environment free of violence,” Ghani said. “We recognize the importance of culture’s role in creating an environment free of violence and full of solidarity, solidarity, regional cooperation and national unity.”

“We can remove cultural deadlocks easily if we strengthen our ties with our cultural heritage that was accompanied by solidarity and unity,” the acting minister of information and culture, Tahir Zuhair, said at the event.

Uzbekistan special envoy to Afghanistan, Ismatulla Irgashev, who addressed the same event, said that his country is ready to fully support the peace efforts in Afghanistan.

“We’re actively cooperating the Afghan peace process,” he said, adding that they hope that Afghanistan will achieve lasting peace and stability.

Envoys from other countries also emphasized the need for peace in Afghanistan and said it will favor the region.

Ali Arghon Chinar, head of the office of the Turkish prime minister, said such events are a connecting point between countries in the region.