On August 26, Samarkand hosted an international conference on “Preservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage: current problems and strategy for their solution”.

The conference, organized on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), was attended by representatives of international organizations and research institutes, scientists, architects, international experts from 77 countries.

Greetings of the Head of the state to the participants of the conference was read by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan A. Aripov.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay expressed great appreciation to the leadership of Uzbekistan for organizing the high-level conference. She noted that holding this conference in Samarkand is of historical importance, since this ancient city was not only a major commercial, but also a cultural center located at the crossroads of the Great Silk Road.

The conference is important in further improvement of activities on preserving the tangible and intangible cultural heritage in Uzbekistan, the study of national practice and international experience.

At the sectional meetings, views were exchanged on the normative-legal framework for careful preservation of cultural heritage and urban planning, the world heritage, and current issues of preserving the cultural heritage in education using information and communication technologies.

Reports of representatives of international organizations, foreign countries, and experts were heard on the unity of world historical heritage centers, the unique architecture of memorial complexes, places of worship, as well as on the issues of preservation of historical monuments in their original form during the urbanization process. The international experience and activities carried out in Uzbekistan in this direction were analyzed.

Following the conference, proposals and recommendations were developed based on the views expressed during the sessions.

Participants of the conference got acquainted with the historical and cultural sites of the city of Samarkand, attended the opening ceremony of the 12th Sharq Taronalari International Music Festival.

Golib Khasanov, UzA