{"id":84178,"date":"2025-10-22T06:19:01","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T06:19:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/?p=84178"},"modified":"2025-10-24T06:19:55","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T06:19:55","slug":"uzbekistan-to-host-unesco-general-conference-in-samarkand-first-outside-paris-in-40-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/2025\/10\/22\/uzbekistan-to-host-unesco-general-conference-in-samarkand-first-outside-paris-in-40-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Uzbekistan to host UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand \u2013 First outside Paris in 40 years"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A MILESTONE FOR GLOBAL CULTURAL DIPLOMACY AND A TESTAMENT TO UZBEKISTAN\u2019S GROWING INTERNATIONAL STATURE<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

SAMARKAND, Wednesday, October 22, 2025 : The 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference, held in Paris from November 7 to 22, 2023, unanimously adopted a resolution to convene its next session \u2013 the 43rd General Conference \u2013 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in 2025 in a landmark decision reflecting Uzbekistan\u2019s rising global profile.<\/p>\n

This decision, supported by all 194 Member States, marks the first time in four decades that the UNESCO General Conference will be hosted outside Paris, underscoring international recognition of Uzbekistan\u2019s sweeping reforms in culture, education, science, and heritage preservation.<\/p>\n

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev hailed the development as a \u201chistoric achievement\u201d and extended gratitude to UNESCO and all supporting nations.<\/p>\n

\u201cTHIS GLOBAL EVENT, BEING HELD IN OUR REGION FOR THE FIRST TIME, WILL HIGHLIGHT THE VAST CIVILIZATIONAL POTENTIAL OF UZBEKISTAN AND CENTRAL ASIA. WE WILL MOBILIZE ALL OUR EFFORTS TO ENSURE ITS SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATION,\u201d PRESIDENT MIRZIYOYEV SAID.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Samarkand \u2014 one of Central Asia\u2019s oldest cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site \u2014 was chosen for its cultural symbolism and deep historical legacy. Once a vibrant hub on the Great Silk Road, linking East and West, Samarkand today remains celebrated for landmarks such as Registan Square, the Ulugh Beg Observatory, and Shah-i-Zinda necropolis \u2014 each embodying centuries of scientific advancement and artistic excellence.<\/p>\n

The 43rd session is expected to draw over 5,000 delegates from 194 countries, including heads of state, ministers, and leading experts in education, science, and culture.<\/p>\n

Following the Paris announcement, President Mirziyoyev issued a special decree on March 16, 2024, establishing an Organizing Committee to oversee logistics, coordination, and protocol for the event. Preparations include streamlining visa facilitation, transportation and health services, and cultural programming in close coordination with UNESCO.<\/p>\n

Ahead of the main conference, Samarkand will also host the 14th UNESCO Youth Forum and the 12th Interregional Meeting of National Commissions for UNESCO, further positioning the city as a global dialogue center.<\/p>\n

The upcoming General Conference will feature sessions on artificial intelligence in museums, gender equality, and women\u2019s empowerment, among other critical issues. Uzbekistan, in partnership with UNESCO, is also advancing new initiatives on AI ethics, digital education, and sustainable tourism along the Silk Road.<\/p>\n

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, in her meeting with President Mirziyoyev in Paris earlier this year, praised Uzbekistan\u2019s proactive engagement, describing the preparations as \u201can exemplary model of international cooperation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Uzbekistan\u2019s relationship with UNESCO spans over 30 years since joining the organization in 1993. The country currently boasts seven sites on the World Heritage List, including Samarkand\u2019s \u201cCrossroad of Cultures,\u201d Bukhara, and Khiva\u2019s Itchan Kala.<\/p>\n

Additionally, 16 elements of Uzbekistan\u2019s living traditions \u2014 such as Shashmaqam music, Nowruz celebrations, Pilaf culture, and Lazgi dance \u2014 are inscribed on UNESCO\u2019s Intangible Cultural Heritage List.<\/p>\n

In 2023, Uzbekistan also established the UNESCO\u2013Uzbekistan International Prize named after Abu Rayhan al-Biruni, recognizing excellence in the ethical use of artificial intelligence \u2014 a symbolic bridge between the country\u2019s scientific legacy and modern innovation.<\/p>\n

Sara Noshadi, Head of the UNESCO Representative Office in Uzbekistan, described the decision as \u201can extraordinary milestone\u201d for both the country and UNESCO.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the first time in 40 years, the General Conference will not take place in Paris but in Samarkand \u2014 a city at the heart of global civilization. Uzbekistan\u2019s bold reforms since 2016 have drawn the world\u2019s attention, particularly in education, culture, and science,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Experts view Samarkand\u2019s selection as not only a recognition of Uzbekistan\u2019s achievements but also as a revival of Central Asia\u2019s role as a historic meeting point for civilizations \u2014 a message of peace, knowledge exchange, and cultural solidarity at a time of rising global polarization.<\/p>\n

As the world prepares for the Samarkand 2025 UNESCO General Conference, the event is expected to serve as more than just a policy platform \u2014 it will symbolize the enduring values of cultural preservation, dialogue, and cooperation.<\/p>\n

In hosting this historic gathering, Uzbekistan is set to reaffirm its position as a modern hub of diplomacy, culture, and science, bridging continents and fostering the global spirit of the Silk Road once again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n