The new Silk Way renews dialogue of cultures

2 August 2016

The conference was organized by the representatives of the Kazakh National University of Al-Farabi with the assistance of the United Nations Department of Public Information in Almaty for the students coming from China, in the framework of the International Summer School of the New Silk Way.

The participants had a unique opportunity to listen to the experts and representatives of various UN agencies such as UNESCO and the United States Agency for the International Development - USAID.

Officer in Charge of the Cluster Office and UNESCO Representative in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Mr. Andrei Chevelev shared the report, where he noted the UNESCO's contribution to the objectives of sustainable development and the importance of the role of the Agency in building a global culture of an inclusive society.

The Programme Officer of the Sector for Social and Human Sciences Arina Plokhikh presented the report on the topic of "Promotion of peace and the importance of intercultural dialogue on the Silk Way." "In the current context of globalization and instability, the Silk Way has the particular relevance, not only in terms of tourism, economy and science, but also in terms of study and development of intercultural and interreligious dialogue, promoting international cooperation with a view to bringing peoples closer together by the way of rethinking of the common heritage of the Silk Way "- she said.

In addition, to the report Ms. Plokhikh presented the UNESCO project "Silk Road Online Platform for Dialogue, Diversity and Development." The project was initiated by Kazakhstan in 2013, and then supported by countries such as China, Azerbaijan, Oman and Germany. Online portal "Silk Road" is a unique platform for a global exchange of information on cultural development, and mainly contributes to the preservation of the cultural heritage of the Silk Way. The impressive architecture of Bukhara (Uzbekistan), magnificent caravanserais throughout Asia, the beauty of the ancient Borobudur (Indonesia), cultural and sports events, such as polo or Buzkashi (Central Asia) - all this has a great importance for the whole world. First of all, it is the property of the indigenous peoples in the great historical crossroads of exchanges, dialogue between cultures and sustainable development. The unshakable legacy of the Silk Way continues to play a key role in promoting peace in the world.

During the discussion the students were asked to elaborate on the topic of the role of intercultural dialogue to promote peace and trust among nations, and also to find some ways and means of preventing misunderstanding between different civilizations, religions and cultures.