ICANAS is the world's largest forum of experts on Eastern history, culture, spirituality, languages, literature, politics, economics, environmental studies and present-day technologies.
The upcoming congress will gather roughly two thousand-scholars, notables of politics and culture, religionists and community activists from all over the world. Only a few countries will have no representatives.
The delegates will discuss educational prospects for Oriental research, problems of museum, archive and library research, and academic book publication.
Formal introductions of books, organizations and events will accompany the congress. A number of expositions will accompany ICANAS. Thus, the Russian State Library will exhibit precious Arabic manuscripts from its own and other Moscow depositories.
Leading the host country's organizing efforts are two affiliates of the Russian Academy of Sciences-Oriental Scholars' Society and the Institute of Oriental Studies. Among other VIPs, the national steering committee includes President Mintimer Shaimiev of Tatarstan, Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, Metropolitan Cyril of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, and Yuri Osipov, President of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
