Following the 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference held in Paris in November 2023, a consensus decision was made to convene the 43rd session in Samarkand. For the first time in its history, this prestigious event will take place outside Paris.
For Uzbekistan, hosting such a large-scale event is a powerful recognition of the country’s reform efforts in recent years and a clear reflection of the international community’s trust.
The choice of Samarkand as the venue carries profound symbolism. It underscores the continuity between Uzbekistan’s rich historical heritage and its ongoing modern transformation. Known as the pearl of the Great Silk Road and a historic centre of global culture and civilization, Samarkand proudly holds a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The 43rd UNESCO General Conference will bring together delegates from all continents. The session runs from October 26th to November 13th, 2025. The program includes general policy debates, meetings of relevant commissions and committees, thematic panel discussions, and a number of related events.
“The decision to hold the 43rd UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand reflects the growing importance of Central Asia and Uzbekistan in promoting culture, education, and science as bridges between peoples”.
The conference’s agenda will include sessions on education, science, communication, and culture. Particular attention will be paid to the protection of World Heritage, the development of creative industries, climate resilience, and digital justice. Exhibitions, youth forums, concerts, and national cultural programs will also be held.
A symbolic highlight of the event will be a tree-planting ceremony in the “Green Garden”, created by the Uzbek side especially for the General Conference. This initiative embodies Uzbekistan’s strong commitment to environmental protection, the Sustainable Development Goals, and efforts to combat the adverse effects of climate change.
For Uzbekistan, this is more than just a matter of international prestige. It is an opportunity to showcase to the world a modern image of the East – open, dynamic, focused on knowledge and the future. It is here, where Beruniy and Khwarezmi wrote their works in the Middle Ages, and the ethics of artificial intelligence and the humanistic principles of the digital age are being discussed to this day.
The UNESCO session in Samarkand will be a landmark event, reflecting Central Asia’s new role in the global humanitarian architecture. It will confirm that dialogue among civilizations is possible not through confrontation, but through culture, science, and respect for human memory.
Kamila Gainulina, expert of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
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