On 10 November, UNRCCA, together with the International Institute for Central Asia (IICA), co-organized a special side event titled “A New Central Asia: The Path to Shared Development and Prosperity through Culture, Education, and Science” in the margins of the 43rd Session of the UNESCO General Conference hosted by Uzbekistan in Samarkand.
In his opening remarks, the SRSG, Imnadze noted that the region is entering a period of renewed energy, with Central Asian states increasingly asserting shared interests and investing in deeper cooperation. He underlined that culture, education, and science are not peripheral, but central to this transformation - foundations of resilience, identity, and innovation, and powerful instruments for building trust, mutual understanding, and lasting peace.
The SRSG highlighted recent progress reflecting this momentum, including the implementation of the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border agreement, the Khujand trilateral declaration, advances in regional water cooperation, and growing engagement with neighboring regions. He stressed that deeper collaboration in education, research, science, and sustainable tourism can strengthen shared knowledge, cultural ties, and inclusive growth across Central Asia.
The event brought together nearly 200 participants, including diplomats, government officials, representatives of UNESCO and other UN agencies, as well as scholars and researchers from across Central Asia. Discussions focused on achievements and prospects for regional cooperation, particularly in the context of Uzbekistan’s chairmanship of the 7th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, with an emphasis on sustainable development, cultural identity, and adaptation to global transformations.
