BEIJING, October 2. /Dunyo IA/. The Chinese news portal "Sohu" has published an article titled "Uzbekistan to Host the 43rd Session of the UNESCO General Conference", reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The publication states that the 43rd Session of the UNESCO General Conference will be held in Samarkand from October to November 2025, marking the first time in 40 years that the event will take place outside of UNESCO’s traditional headquarters in Paris.

"Samarkand, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is widely recognized as a "crossroads of Eastern and Western cultures and civilizations", - author notes. - The selection of this ancient city as the venue for the upcoming General Conference is a testament to the international community’s high appreciation of Uzbekistan’s efforts in safeguarding cultural heritage, as well as its active role in promoting international cooperation in the fields of science, technology, education, and culture. It also underscores the country's growing importance in global cultural tourism and its contribution to fostering multilateral exchange".

As noted, since joining the United Nations on 2 March 1992, Uzbekistan has, over the past three decades, emerged as an active proponent of global solutions. The country continues to achieve notable progress in the fields of culture, tourism, and cultural exchange. "In 2023, Uzbekistan successfully hosted the 25th session of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in the city of Samarkand. Having now secured the right to host the UNESCO General Conference, Uzbekistan has further solidified its role as a key platform for international cultural and tourism exchange", article states.

Through its cooperation with the United Nations, Uzbekistan has not only achieved significant results in the field of cultural tourism but has also actively contributed to sustainable development across a wide range of sectors. The country was among the first in the region to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its national development strategy and, in 2018, developed its national SDG framework. In 2020, the National Coordinating Committee on the SDGs finalized a set of 125 indicators tailored to reflect Uzbekistan’s national context and development priorities.

By 2024, Uzbekistan had risen 19 positions in the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index, ranking among the top five fastest-progressing countries in the world. Between 2022 and 2024, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNICEF, and other international organizations, the poverty rate in Uzbekistan was reduced from 17% to 8.9%. This notable achievement laid a strong foundation for the comprehensive development of the environment, culture, and tourism sectors.

As noted, Uzbekistan is also actively engaged in the multilateral framework of the United Nations. Between 2018 and 2025, the country initiated 13 resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, addressing key global issues such as sustainable tourism and the protection of the environment in the Aral Sea region. Uzbekistan served as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the term 2021–2023 and currently continues its active participation in various UN bodies, including United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and International Labour Organization (ILO).

"The 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, to be held in 2025, presents an important opportunity for Uzbekistan to showcase its cultural and tourism potential to the world, deepen multilateral cooperation, and play a significant role in shaping the global agenda", - "Sohu" article states.