The closing meeting of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference took place at the Congress Center in Samarkand.

The event brought together more than 4,600 representatives from over 180 member states of the Organization, setting a record for the number of delegates at a UNESCO conference.

At the opening ceremony of the 43rd session of the General Conference, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev was joined by President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić and President of Slovakia Peter Pellegrini as honorary guests.

Over the course of two weeks, more than 150 events, workshops, conferences, international exhibitions, and concert programs were held in parallel with the plenary sessions. UNESCO member states presented their national projects and initiatives.

At the 43rd session of the General Conference, the term of office of UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, who had led the Organization since 2017, came to an end. For her significant contributions to strengthening cooperation between UNESCO and Uzbekistan in the fields of science, education, and culture, as well as her personal efforts in promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Uzbek people, she was awarded the high state honor – the Dustlik (Friendship) Order.

Khaled El-Enany, an Egyptian scholar and statesman, was elected the new Director-General of UNESCO. He held his inauguration ceremony in Samarkand, becoming the 12th head of the Organization.

At the closing meeting, Uzbekistan’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Kamol Mukhtarov, noted that the successful conduct of the 43rd session was the result of practical cooperation with the Organization’s headquarters and expressed the country’s readiness to expand its collaboration with this authoritative institution.

Participants of the forum expressed their gratitude to the leadership of Uzbekistan for the high level of organization of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference and for creating an atmosphere of active and productive dialogue. A corresponding document was adopted following the session.

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Golib Khasanov, UzA