The delegation of Uzbekistan held talks with the General Director of UNESCO

The delegation of Uzbekistan held talks with the General Director of UNESCO

As part of the participation in the 41st session of the UNESCO General Conference, Deputy Prime Minister Aziz Abdukhakimov met with UNESCO General Director Audrey Azoulay.

During the negotiations, the Uzbek side congratulated her on her re-election for a second term and told about the large-scale efforts being made under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to promote the areas included in the UNESCO mandate. Plans were announced to increase cooperation with the Organization, including the launch of the Khiva Process platform, the inclusion of the Art of Bakhshi in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the celebration of the International Day of Universal Access to Information, as well as the activation of the participation of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the work of UNESCO bodies. Audrey Azoulay conveyed warm congratulations and best wishes to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sh. Mirziyoyev on his re-election for a second term. She expressed gratitude to the Uzbek side for supporting her candidacy. The General Director highly appreciated the opening of a new chapter in relations with Uzbekistan in recent years and reaffirmed UNESCO's commitment to deepening cooperation in all areas of its mandate.

During the meeting, Audrey Azoulay expressed readiness to contribute to the disclosure of Uzbekistan's potential in the field of culture, tourism, education and science.

"People are aware of the many thousands of years of history and the depth of the country's culture. During my visit to Uzbekistan, I was convinced that against the background of the current evolution of geopolitics, your region can once again become the center of the world and world politics," Audrey Azoulay said.

The Head of the Organization welcomed the efforts to launch the Khiva Process platform and called for the maximum use of UNESCO's opportunities to promote it.

During the meeting with the delegation of Uzbekistan, UNESCO Deputy General Director for Social Sciences and Humanities Gabriela Ramos expressed gratitude to the Government of Uzbekistan for organizing her high-level visit to the republic this September to participate in the International Forum "Central Asia at the Crossroads of World Civilizations", organized on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sh.Mirziyoyev. Ramos welcomed the introduction by the Uzbek side of the resolution "Khiva process" for consideration at the current session of the General Conference. She reported on the Organization's determination to support efforts to promote this platform.

At the talks with the Minister of Culture and Youth of the UAE Nura bint Mohammed Al-Kaabi (heads the Emirati delegation at the General Conference), the Uzbek side touched upon the efforts made by the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the field of preserving and promoting the rich historical and cultural heritage of the country. A detailed presentation of the candidacy of Samarkand as the venue for the 25th session of the UNWTO General Assembly in 2023 was held.

Nura bint Mohammed Al-Kaabi highly appreciated the intensification of mutual efforts by the two countries to expand trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian relations. She particularly welcomed the intensification of Uzbekistan's participation in the work of major festivals and cultural forums organized in the UAE, and also expressed readiness to contribute to strengthening bilateral cooperation through the ministries of culture of the two states.