Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - The 41st session of the General Conference of UNESCO, held at the headquarters of the Organization in Paris, has become historical and most productive in terms of promoting the initiatives of the Republic of Uzbekistan through UNESCO. Over the past few days, the relevant specialized commissions of the General Conference considered and approved three draft resolutions submitted by the Uzbek side at once.

The first document entitled "Khiva Process: Promoting International Cooperation in Central Asia" provides for the creation of a new platform for enhancing international cooperation in Central Asia in the fields of UNESCO’s competence (culture, education, science, information and communication). This platform was launched following the results of the International Cultural Forum "Central Asia at the Crossroads of World Civilizations" held on 14-16 September in Khiva on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. 

Within the framework of the 212nd session of the Executive Board of UNESCO, held on 6-20 October  2021 in Paris, a draft decision of the same name was adopted with the co-authorship of 23 states representing all regions of the world.

The second document concerns strengthening measures to support preschool education, including holding the Global Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education in Tashkent. The resolution, submitted directly to the General Conference as an amendment to the UNESCO draft program and budget for 2022-2025, will raise the official level of the event from an expert to a ministerial one. The conference is one of the largest UNESCO forums in the field of education. Given the large-scale reforms carried out in Uzbekistan in recent years in the development of preschool education, the Organization invited the Uzbek side to jointly hold this event in the republic.

The third resolution assumes widespread celebration of 1050th anniversary of the birth of Abu Rayhon Beruniy in 2022-2023 as an important anniversary date with which UNESCO can be associated. The document, co-authored with Tajikistan and Iran and with the support of Turkey, will make it possible to hold major events to celebrate the birthday of the great scientist and thinker in Uzbekistan and abroad under the auspices of UNESCO. The corresponding draft decision on this issue was adopted within the framework of the 210th session, held in December 2020. - January 2021

All initiatives of Uzbekistan were approved by general approval without discussion or change. The leadership of UNESCO expressed gratitude for the introduction by the Uzbek side of draft resolutions that are of particular relevance and significance in promoting the mandate of the Organization. In her official comments, the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, welcomed the resolution of the Uzbek side on the promotion of preschool education and called on Member States to make voluntary contributions to support the work on early childhood education and care. The vision of the head of the Organization was reflected in the final version of the approved document.

Speaking about the resolution “Khiva process”, the Deputy Director General of UNESCO for Social and Humanitarian Affairs G. Ramos again expressed her gratitude to the Government of Uzbekistan for organizing in Khiva of the “exciting” forum in terms of content and variety of participation and contributions. She called it a “key initiative” in promoting intercultural dialogue and a culture of peace in the region. The Deputy Director General stressed that the Social and Human Sciences Sector she leads is ready to assist in promoting the initiative within the framework of the Silk Roads and Social Transformation Management flagship programs, as well as projects to support youth and encourage intercultural interaction.

Delegates of a number of co-sponsoring states, incl. Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Hungary, China, Turkey and Ethiopia also expressed warm words of support in favor of the "Khiva process". According to S. Sherniyaz, Permanent Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic to UNESCO, the cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva from time immemorial have been a kind of "silicon valleys" in Central Asia. The Permanent Representative expressed gratitude to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev for launching this important process, which will support the development and preservation of scientific minds and cultural figures in the name of the prosperity of the entire region.