The first international scientific and practical symposium on the current issues of studying and preserving the tangible cultural heritage of the Silk Road has opened at the Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage in Samarkand.

The symposium, organized by the UNESCO Office in Uzbekistan jointly with the Silk Road International Research Institute and the Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, is attended by restorers and scientists from about 20 countries located along the ancient Great Silk Road, as well as specialists in architecture.

At the opening ceremony of the symposium, the Head Office and UNESCO Representative in Uzbekistan, Sara Noshadi, spoke about the goals and objectives of this event, as well as the work being done to preserve objects of tangible cultural heritage in various countries, in particular in the countries through which the Great Silk Road passed.

The Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Rector of the “Silk Road” International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage Aziz Abdukhakimov addressed the conference. He noted that today in Uzbekistan 8,210 objects of tangible cultural heritage are under state protection.

As part of the conference, the UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Heritage Tourism along the Silk Roads was opened at the “Silk Road” International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage.

At the symposium, local and foreign experts and scientists exchanged views on restoring and conserving cultural heritage sites on the Silk Road and fine and decorative arts.

G. Khasanov, photos by A. Isroilov, UzA