The 7^th Congress of Eastern Studies scholars of Russia took place from 13^th to 16^th September in the “Zvenigorodskiy” pension of the Russian Academy of Sciences near Moscow. The leading Russian scholars involved in eastern Studies were invited. About 150 of esteemed guests and also participants who sent in their theses gathered. Tuvinology was represented by Doctor of culturology, chief scientific worker of TIGI of government of RT, Valentina Suzukei, and by Candidate of philosophical studies, the editor-in-chief of the “New Research of Tuva” scholarly journal, Chimiza Lamazhaa.

During sectional meetings, various relevant matters of Eastern Studies were discussed, including problems of development of Eastern Studies, teaching of this subject in the colleges and universities of the country, the conditions in regional centers of Russia and countries of SNG, as well as special research problems of various subdivisions of Eastern studies. 

Scholars from Moscow, Sankt-Peterburg, as well as Elista, Kazan, Ufa, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Kyzyl, Alma-Ata, Minsk, Kiev, and other places were among the participants.  The discussions were interesting, involved, productive, and according to the participants, inspirational.

As part of the work of the Congress, a presentation of the “New Research of Tuva” journal took place on September 15.  Within a single scholarly forum, four scholars at the same time participated, who are members of the editorial collective of this publication. They are members of the editorial board Dmitri Vasilyev and Zoya Anaiban (Institute of Eastern Studies of RAN), one of the group of editors Valentina Suzukei, and the editor-in-chief, Chimiza Lamazhaa (MosGU). The participants of one of the sectional meetings evaluating the problems of study of the regions of Central Asia listened with great interest to the presentation of the project, which is useful and significant as a model not only for turkologists or nomadologists, but also for everybody who studies other regions. Our colleagues from Bashkiria, Tatarstan, Buryatia and other republics admitted that they do not have a similar, exceptionally useful publication like this.  They approved the concept of the project, and expressed desire to co-operate and to exchange materials. In this way, we have reached agreement about co-operation with various centers of scholarly studies, periodical publications of various centers, and colleges of various cities of Russia and countries of SNG.

At the final meeting of the congress (Sept.16), the most important problem was the evaluation of questions of the organization. In its way, this congress was the final one of the present Society of Eastern studies scholars of Russia associated with the Russian Academy of Sciences. As it turned out, the new Charter of the RAN does not allow this society to function as a structural part of the academy.

This is why the Eastern studies scholars were faced with a task of re-creating this society in a new form. Decision was made to call it “Eastern Studies Scholars’ Society of Russia”.  Vitaly Naumkin, the director of Institute of Eastern Studies of RAN, was unanimously elected as its president. He took over the reins of government from Mikhail Meyer, Director of Institute of the countries of Asia and Africa with MGU, who received thanks and gratitude for the work performed in this position. How exactly the society will be formed is a task over which V. Naumkin and the co-ordination board will labor in the near future. It is also necessary to decide the problem of the next congress, which is traditionally held every two years. The Eighth Congress (the numerical sequence of the congresses will be preserved, according to a special decision) should be hosted by Kazan. The dates will be decided.

As a whole, the Congress was exceptionally interesting and saturated. And it ended on a positive note: the rector of the Ufa Z. Ismailov Ishmukhamet Galyautdinov State Academy of Arts performed for everybody a composition on a kurai – a Bashkir folk instrument – flute. Then he gave the kurai to the new leader of the Eastern studies scholars, to an applause of his colleagues.