The conference was organized by the Consulate General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in St Petersburg; the Honorable Consulate of Kyrgyzstan in St Petersburg, the IOM RAS, the Russian Geographic Society, the Faculty of Oriental Studies, St Petersburg State University.

Before the conference was inaugurated the exhibition of archival documents was opened.

At the opening ceremony of the conference the speeches were delivered by Zh.Kenshimov, the Consul General of Kazakhstan, D.Chistyakov, the Vice President of the Russian Geographic Society, Prof Dr I.Popova, the Head of the IOM RAS, Prof Dr E.Zelenev, the Head of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, St Petersburg State University.

At the conference there were presented papers on the life and activities of Chokan Ch. Valikhanov (1835-1865), a Kazakh scholar, historian, ethnographer, traveler, writer and also a close friend of Th.Dostoevsky.

After that a banquet was held during which Zh.Kenshimov, the Consul General of Kazakhstan, gave the participants commemorative medals Ch.Valikhanov (1833-1863).