Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — During his state visit to France on 12 March, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

The talks focused on strengthening Uzbekistan’s multifaceted cooperation with UNESCO and on organizational matters related to the preparation and hosting of the 43rd session of the General Conference of the Organization, which is set to take place in Samarkand this autumn.

The high level of partnership between Uzbekistan and UNESCO was highlighted. On Uzbekistan’s initiative, resolutions addressing access to information and children’s education have been adopted. The country has joined the International Centre for the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, Bukhara has been included in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, and a UNESCO Chair has been established at the Silk Road University in Samarkand.

In 2023, seven new projects were launched in the fields of education, culture, digital technologies, and innovation. The Turan Deserts and the Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor have been added to UNESCO’s special lists, along with Uzbekistan’s traditional crafts and cultural practices, such as sericulture, ceramics, the playing of the rubab, and iftar traditions. Additionally, valuable archival materials have been recognized, including the “Archive of the Emir of Bukhara’s Chancellery,” the “Turkestan Album,” and the “Photographic Collection of Khudaybergen Devanov.”

It was particularly emphasized that, for the first time in 40 years, the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference will be held outside its headquarters in Paris and will be dedicated to the Organization’s 80th anniversary. Samarkand will serve as the venue for this significant international event.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay commended the fruitful cooperation with Uzbekistan and expressed appreciation for the country's active preparations for the upcoming conference. As a result of the meeting, agreements were reached to further expand practical collaboration and to organize additional forums and events within the framework of the session.