The 43rd session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference has opened in Samarkand, bringing together representatives from nearly 200 countries.
The forum, held from 30 October to 13 November 2025, aims to strengthen global dialogue on education, science and culture while shaping UNESCO’s strategy for the coming years.
This is the first time in more than forty years that the organisation’s main assembly has convened outside its Paris headquarters.
The decision to host the conference in Samarkand, one of the oldest cities on the Silk Road, symbolises a bridge between civilisations and reflects Uzbekistan’s growing role in international cultural diplomacy.
The conference will adopt UNESCO’s programme and budget through 2027 and elect members to its governing bodies.
Delegates are expected to discuss the role of digital technologies in education, the protection of cultural heritage, and new approaches to sustainable development.
UNESCO’s Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, noted that the Samarkand session is taking place at a time of rapid change and global uncertainty, emphasising the need for collective efforts to safeguard humanity’s shared legacy.
In his opening address, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev outlined Uzbekistan’s vision for inclusive and innovative development. He proposed establishing a School of Artificial Intelligence, a UNESCO Academy for Women’s Leadership, and an International Institute of Digital Heritage.
Other initiatives include designating 19 November as the International Day of Documentary Heritage and launching a Green Capital programme that links environmental protection with cultural preservation.
The opening ceremony was also attended by President Aleksandar Vučić of Serbia and President Peter Pellegrini of Slovakia as honorary guests. More than 2,800 participants from 190 countries are taking part in the event, including heads of state, ministers and experts.
The conference comes at a complex time for UNESCO, as global tensions and technological disruption reshape international cooperation. Delegates are tasked with agreeing on new funding and policy frameworks to ensure the organisation’s continued relevance.
The session is seen as a moment of renewal, reaffirming the importance of education, science and culture in building understanding across nations.
Reports from CNN say the Pentagon has approved the provision of long range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine after assessing its impact on U.S. stockpiles...
Kazakhstan is stepping up its investment activity and gradually reclaiming its position as one of the region’s leading economic centres....
Moldova's parliament voted on Friday to appoint pro-EU economist Alexandru Munteanu as the country's new prime minister....
Foreign ministers of some Muslim countries will meet in Istanbul on Monday to discuss the Gaza ceasefire and next steps there, Turkish Foreign Ministe...
...
Reports from CNN say the Pentagon has approved the provision of long range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine after assessing its impact on U.S. stockpiles, while leaving the ultimate decision to President Trump.
Kazakhstan is stepping up its investment activity and gradually reclaiming its position as one of the region’s leading economic centres.
Moldova's parliament voted on Friday to appoint pro-EU economist Alexandru Munteanu as the country's new prime minister.
Foreign ministers of some Muslim countries will meet in Istanbul on Monday to discuss the Gaza ceasefire and next steps there, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Friday, voicing concern over whether the ceasefire will continue.
Reliable sources have confirmed to AnewZ that the United States has asked Azerbaijan to join a Stabilisation Force in Gaza, as part of a proposed international mission to secure the territory.
Tanzanian police fired tear gas and live rounds on Thursday to disperse protesters in Dar es Salaam and other cities, a day after a disputed election marked by violence and claims of political repression, witnesses said.
Centrist liberal party D66, led by 38-year-old Rob Jetten, has made sweeping gains in the Dutch election, emerging neck and neck with Geert Wilders’ far-right Freedom Party (PVV) in early results — a stunning reversal just two years after D66 ranked sixth.
U.S. President Donald Trump agreed with President Xi Jinping to trim tariffs on China in exchange for Beijing cracking down on the illicit fentanyl trade, Trump said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that the most difficult situation on the front line remains the eastern city of Pokrovsk, where fighting continues to be most intense due to a strong concentration of Russian forces.
Kazakhstan is stepping up its investment activity and gradually reclaiming its position as one of the region’s leading economic centres.
Foreign ministers of some Muslim countries will meet in Istanbul on Monday to discuss the Gaza ceasefire and next steps there, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Friday, voicing concern over whether the ceasefire will continue.
The Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has strongly condemned the order by U.S. President Donald Trump to resume nuclear weapons testing, while having bombed Iran’s civilian nuclear sites in June and threatening further strikes.
The Israeli military attacked the Gaza Strip for a third day on Thursday night, killing two people, the Palestinian Authority's official news agency said, in another test of a fragile ceasefire agreement.
Azerbaijan says the long-anticipated Zangezur Corridor project is nearing full completion along its border with Armenia, marking a major step in boosting regional connectivity.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment