The historic city of the Central Asian nation, a crossroads of civilizations along the Silk Road, is hosting the major conference for the first time in four decades outside UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris, at a time of great challenges for humanity.

Delegations from 181 countries focus discussions until November 13 on issues such as the defense of peace, multilateralism, solidarity, and international cooperation.

The debates’ agenda includes topics such as the future of education, the role of new technologies in the teaching and learning process, their impact on development, the importance of culture and heritage as vectors of identity and unity, and the need for scientific cooperation.

Other issues include combating disinformation and hate speech, as well as the examination of a new legal instrument on neurotechnology, which is expected to be adopted by consensus.

A change of leadership ceremony, during which Romanian Ambassador to UNESCO and outgoing President of the intergovernmental body, Simona-Mirela Miculescu, was recognized, took place during the opening day of the Conference.

The opening session included remarks by its Director-General Audrey Azoulay, who gave an overview of her term, and Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who emphasized the symbolic value of the Conference outside Paris and his country’s collaboration with UNESCO.

The Cuban delegation to the Samarkand meeting also includes Dulce Maria Buergo, president of the Cuban National Commission for UNESCO, and Laura Alvarez, an official from Cuba’s Permanent Delegation to the organization.

Cuba is participating with the commitment to contribute to strengthening UNESCO in a complex and challenging international environment.

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