Shavkat Mirziyoyev Meets with UNESCO Director-General in Paris
President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, met with Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, during his state visit to France on March 12. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss strengthening cooperation between Uzbekistan and the organization, as well as to prepare for hosting the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand this autumn.
The meeting highlighted the successful partnership between Uzbekistan and UNESCO, which has led to the adoption of resolutions on access to information and children’s education. Uzbekistan has also joined the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property and has seen achievements such as Bukhara being included in the “Creative Cities Network” and the establishment of a UNESCO department at the Silk Road University in Samarkand. Seven new projects in education, culture, digital technologies, and innovation were launched last year.
UNESCO has added various aspects of Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage to its special lists, including the Turan deserts and Zarafshan-Karakum corridor, silk weaving, pottery, rubab playing, and iftar traditions. Historical documents such as the “Bukhara Emir’s Office Archive,” the “Turkestan Album,” and the “Khudaybergen Devonov Photo Album” have also been recognized by the organization.
The upcoming 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand is significant as it will be the first time in 40 years that the event is held outside of UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris. This milestone coincides with UNESCO’s 80th anniversary.
Director-General Audrey Azoulay commended the productive cooperation with Uzbekistan and thanked the country’s leadership for its extensive preparations for the upcoming conference. Both parties agreed to expand practical cooperation programs and to continue collaborating closely in organizing forums and events within the framework of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference.
