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.
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As global diplomatic dynamics continue to evolve, the European Union is reassessing its ability to respond effectively to major international developments, prompting renewed debate over defence coordination, foreign policy decision-making and institutional reform.
U.S. forces say they have completed strikes on Iranian military sites near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with missile attacks on an American base in Jordan, marking a sharp escalation in tensions between the two sides.
Da Afghanistan Bank, the country's central bank, has discussed expanding banking and trade relations with the Afghanistan–U.S. Joint Chamber of Commerce as the country seeks to strengthen financial services for traders and support private sector growth.
Tbilisi and Brussels have offered sharply different interpretations of a key meeting on Georgia's visa-free travel arrangements, highlighting the growing divide between the two sides.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry says 19 citizens have been repatriated following a deadly drone attack on two cargo ships in the Sea of Azov on 5 June.
A Sudanese man has been arrested over a knife attack in Belfast that left a man seriously injured and prompted calls online for a protest after footage of the incident circulated widely on social media.
Iran and Israel said on Monday (8 June) they had halted attacks on each other following an appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump, as Axios reported that Trump had privately told Benjamin Netanyahu “be careful, or you will be on your own very soon”.
Ukraine's military said it struck a Russian "shadow fleet" tanker in the Black Sea as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Moscow's energy and logistics networks. The move underscores Kyiv's focus on targeting maritime assets it says are used to bypass sanctions on Russian oil exports.
Armenia’s parliamentary election has strengthened Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s mandate, with analysts linking the result to his post-Garabagh agenda and pro-Western direction. However, constitutional constraints remain a key obstacle to peace efforts with Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan is considering new restrictions on children's use of social media, including a minimum registration age of 16 and fines for platforms that fail to protect young users. The proposals form part of a broader global trend towards tighter regulation of online platforms.
Da Afghanistan Bank, the country's central bank, has discussed expanding banking and trade relations with the Afghanistan–U.S. Joint Chamber of Commerce as the country seeks to strengthen financial services for traders and support private sector growth.
Tbilisi and Brussels have offered sharply different interpretations of a key meeting on Georgia's visa-free travel arrangements, highlighting the growing divide between the two sides.
The Pakistani city of Karachi is struggling under severe heat and humidity as the country enters a prolonged heatwave period. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of above-normal temperatures across much of the country between 7 and 12 June.
Türkiye’s president-designate for this autumn’s UN climate conference on Tuesday signed the COP31 host country agreement during a gathering in Bonn, Germany.
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