What was proposed at UNESCO: An “Artificial Intelligence – School” in Uzbekistan and the restoration of a museum in Syria

A model project titled “Artificial Intelligence – School” will be launched in Uzbekistan, the Aleppo Museum in Syria will be restored, and efforts to preserve cultural heritage in Ukraine will continue. These initiatives were proposed on October 30 at the 43rd session of UNESCO’s General Conference in Samarkand.

During the opening ceremony, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay expressed gratitude in Uzbek and spoke about the organization’s progress. She noted that under her leadership, UNESCO’s resources had increased by 82 percent, and that this session in Samarkand had attracted more than 4,500 accredited participants from 181 countries — a record number.

“Over the past eight years, even without the short-term participation of the United States, UNESCO has increased its resources by $800 million — an 82 percent rise — mainly due to the tripling of voluntary contributions.

These funds have benefited almost all member states, showing your support for our strategic and operational priorities.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the largest donors of the past eight years — Sweden, the European Union, and the Global Partnership for Education of the World Bank.

Thinking about the future means confronting the realities and risks of the present. In this regard, UNESCO has undergone a genuine transformation in recent years to operate effectively in crisis-affected areas and in the wake of their consequences.

The comprehensive approach developed in Mosul — and later implemented elsewhere — shows that UNESCO can respond to the most urgent and vital needs of its member states. In other words, we have adapted to the necessity of working in increasingly complex environments.

We are also working within our mandate in Ukraine — from protecting cultural heritage to training teachers and supporting journalists.

In Syria, I am pleased to announce a new initiative to restore the Aleppo Museum, with the support of Italy, to which I express my gratitude. This project continues the work launched this summer at the National Museum of Damascus.

Today, UNESCO’s mandate remains the only one in the world that can still unite the international community — in spirit, in words, and in action. This mandate is a treasure, and I urge all of you to preserve and further develop it,” Azoulay said.

The President of the 43rd session of UNESCO’s General Conference, Hondeker Talha, then gave the floor to the President of Uzbekistan, noting that Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s life path reflects that of a true statesman who combines knowledge, administrative wisdom, and a deep sense of responsibility for his country’s destiny.

“It is a great honor for me to invite the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, His Excellency Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to deliver his speech.

The great Uzbek poet Alisher Navoi once wrote: ‘Knowledge and wisdom are the most beautiful adornments of a human being.’

These words perfectly describe the path of the President of Uzbekistan — a path dedicated to science, heritage, public service, and the common good.

These values resonate deeply with UNESCO’s ideals and mission, which makes His Excellency’s presence today especially meaningful.

The President of Uzbekistan is a true statesman, combining scientific knowledge, administrative wisdom, and profound responsibility for his country’s fate. Drawing on his rich experience and strategic vision, he has shaped the concept of modern Uzbekistan’s development and has been consistently implementing it for the well-being of his people.

Under his leadership, the country has achieved remarkable success in all fields. Uzbekistan has opened up to the outside world, replacing isolation with dialogue and active diplomacy, while striving to ensure the dignity and well-being of every citizen,” he said.

Afterwards, President Mirziyoyev took the floor and presented several proposals.

“It is time to elevate our multifaceted cooperation and advance toward UNESCO’s global goals.

Allow me to present several proposals on key agenda issues.

First, promoting inclusive education and integrating artificial intelligence technologies into the field has become an urgent task.

It is essential to provide equal learning opportunities for every child, regardless of physical or social differences. In this regard, we consider it appropriate to introduce UNESCO’s platform for developing inclusive education for children with special needs.

We hope for your support in our initiative to hold the World Vocational Education Summit, aimed at creating an international dialogue platform for sharing experience and knowledge in education.

Training a new generation skilled in information technology and creative thinking is one of our top priorities. To widely introduce artificial intelligence into the education system, we are ready to implement the “Artificial Intelligence – School” model project in cooperation with UNESCO.

We also propose organizing an International Experts Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence under UNESCO’s auspices, involving leading universities, pedagogical and research institutions from all continents.

Second, we must strengthen joint efforts to preserve the world’s invaluable intangible cultural heritage — including oral folklore, manuscripts, archives, and historical documents. We are interested in developing UNESCO’s “Memory of the World” program to safeguard this heritage and ensure its accessibility to all.

To commemorate the establishment of this important initiative, we propose designating November 19 as the International Day of Documentary Heritage and creating an International Institute for Digital Heritage under UNESCO.

As you know, the ancient city of Bukhara is a member of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network for craftsmanship. We are ready to host an international congress in this field there in 2027.

Third, it is crucial to actively implement global programs to enhance women’s leadership and professional competence.

According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, women currently hold only 25 percent of leadership positions in scientific and cultural institutions, 30 percent in education management, and account for 33 percent of researchers worldwide. Unfortunately, this indicates that gender inequality remains unresolved.

Gender equality is one of UNESCO’s fundamental priorities, and all its initiatives must integrate this principle. In this regard, we believe it is time to establish a UNESCO Academy for Women’s Leadership to exchange experiences and best practices among member states. We also propose holding a Global Forum of Women Researchers, Artists, Teachers, and Innovators in Education, Culture, and Science in Samarkand.

Fourth, effective cooperation against the climate crisis has become an urgent necessity.

The noticeable rise in average temperatures, melting glaciers, desertification, soil degradation, and urbanization processes are seriously affecting cultural heritage sites.

We propose launching the global initiative “UNESCO Ecological Capital” to recognize and encourage cities successfully implementing green and environmentally responsible programs. Moreover, we support the development of a UNESCO Executive Board resolution on “Strengthening Measures to Safeguard Cultural Heritage in the Context of Globalization and Climate Change.” We are ready to host an international symposium on this topic in Khiva.

Fifth, combating the spread of misinformation and discrimination in the digital space has become increasingly critical.

We propose holding an International Festival of Children’s Cultural Content to exchange creative multimedia works and ideas among young people whose worldview is being shaped in the digital transformation era.

To promote media transparency, analytical thinking, and protection of youth from manipulation, we suggest that UNESCO develop a comprehensive strategy to advance media literacy.

Finally, in today’s world, where interfaith tensions are intensifying, promoting universal human values such as tolerance, mutual understanding, and harmony is more important than ever.

By presenting Islamic culture and enlightenment to the world, we can effectively combat radicalism and Islamophobia. In this regard, we invite UNESCO to collaborate with Uzbekistan’s unique institutions — the Center for Islamic Civilization, and the research centers of Imam Bukhari, Imam Maturidi, Imam Termizi, and Bahouddin Naqshband.

Dear friends,

I am confident that today’s conference will mark a significant step in defining new areas of cooperation, strengthening mutual trust, and enhancing global mechanisms for sustainable development.

Undoubtedly, the “Spirit of Samarkand,” inspired by UNESCO’s timeless values and traditions, will continue to unite us on the path of shared progress.

I wish all of you great success in this noble mission and fruitful work for the session of UNESCO,” Mirziyoyev said.