SAMARKAND, Thursday, October 30, 2025 (WNP): President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Thursday urged the international community to strengthen cooperation in education, cultural preservation, gender equality, and climate action while addressing the opening ceremony of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, held for the first time in 40 years outside UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris.

Welcoming global leaders, including UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, President Aleksandar Vučić of Serbia, and President Peter Pellegrini of Slovakia, Mirziyoyev said the hosting of the prestigious conference in Samarkand reflected the international community’s trust in Uzbekistan’s ongoing reforms and growing role as a hub of intercultural dialogue.

The Uzbek leader described Samarkand as “a land of peace and friendship among nations,” emphasizing its historical legacy as a cradle of scientific discoveries, culture, and intellectual exchange.

He highlighted Uzbekistan’s commitment to UNESCO’s mission of promoting education, science, culture, and heritage protection, calling it “a bridge of harmony between East and West, North and South.”

Outlining Uzbekistan’s cooperation with UNESCO, President Mirziyoyev noted that a five-year partnership program up to 2027 is being implemented successfully. He cited several milestones, including the recognition of nearly twenty Uzbek cultural traditions—such as Shashmaqom music, Lazgi dance, Navruz celebrations, and traditional crafts—as intangible world heritage.

He also underscored Uzbekistan’s contribution to global heritage conservation, with cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, and Shahrisabz listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the recent inclusion of monuments along the Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor. “Hundreds of cultural sites have been restored in accordance with international standards,” he said.

During the conference, Uzbekistan is hosting a series of events, including the first-ever Contemporary Art Biennale in Bukhara, the inauguration of a UNESCO Regional Center for Early Childhood Education in Tashkent, and the presentation of the UNESCO–Uzbekistan Abu Rayhan Beruni International Prize.

Presenting a five-point agenda, President Mirziyoyev proposed new initiatives aimed at advancing UNESCO’s global mission. He called for the creation of a UNESCO Platform for Inclusive Education for children with special needs, a World Summit on Vocational Education, and a “School of Artificial Intelligence” model project in Uzbekistan. He also proposed an International Expert Forum on AI Ethics to ensure responsible technological advancement in education.

To safeguard cultural heritage, the President recommended declaring November 19 as the “International Day of Documentary Heritage” and establishing an International Institute for Digital Heritage under UNESCO. He also invited member states to participate in an International Handicrafts Congress in Bukhara in 2027.

Highlighting gender equality as a core UNESCO value, Mirziyoyev proposed establishing a UNESCO Academy on Women’s Leadership and organizing a Global Forum of Women Leaders in Samarkand to enhance women’s participation in education, culture, and science.

Addressing environmental challenges, he called for the launch of a “UNESCO Ecological Capital” initiative to recognize cities implementing sustainable and green programs, and offered to host an international symposium in Khiva on protecting cultural heritage from climate change.

The Uzbek president further urged UNESCO to combat misinformation and digital discrimination by developing a global media literacy strategy and hosting an International Festival of Children’s Cultural Content. He also called for joint efforts to counter radicalism and Islamophobia through interfaith understanding, proposing greater use of Uzbekistan’s Islamic Civilization Center and related research institutes as global dialogue platforms.

Expressing confidence in the success of the conference, President Mirziyoyev said, “The Spirit of Samarkand — rooted in UNESCO’s eternal values — will inspire us to unite for shared progress.”

He concluded by reaffirming Uzbekistan’s readiness to serve as a bridge for peace, mutual understanding, and sustainable development, calling the gathering “a defining step in strengthening global cooperation for the future of humanity.”