The International Forum on the Great Silk Roads
In the framework of the International Decade for Rapprochement of Cultures (2013-2022), the Republic of Kazakhstan organized in collaboration with UNESCO an International Forum on the “Great Silk Roads” (Almaty,14 -16 October 2013).
Around twenty renowned Silk Road experts from Kazakhstan and more than twenty international experts from Azerbaijan, Peoples Republic of China, France, Germany, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Republic of Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Oman, Tajikistan, Turkey, United Kingdom and Uzbekistan attended this Forum.
The Forum examined issues related to the contribution of the historical Silk Roads to intercultural dialogue in the context of globalization. Participants discussed the common heritage of the Great Silk Road and its potential for further international intellectual and humanitarian cooperation within the framework of the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures.
Mr. Askar Buribayev, vice-minister of culture and information of Republic of Kazakhstan, Ms. Assel Utegenova, Secretary General of the National Commission of Kazakhstan for UNESCO and ISESCO, and Mr. Ali Moussa-Iye, Chief of UNESCO’s section of History and Memory for Dialogue addressed the opening session. During this ceremony, past initiatives undertaken in this respect by the Republic of Kazakhstan and UNESCO were presented.
Topics discussed the first day included: “Revisiting the Cultural Heritage of the Silk Roads”, “Tangible Cultural Heritage” and “Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Silk Roads”, “Common Heritage and Pluralistic Identity along the Silk Roads”. During these sessions, different elements of the Silk Roads’ heritage and their contribution to the development of common heritage and plural identity of people along the historical silk roads were presented as part of intercultural exchanges in the past.
The “International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures: the Silk Road and its potential for Intercultural Dialogue Today” was the main topic of the second day. Four interactive sessions were held under this topic, including the “Silk Road as a vector of intercultural dialogue in 21st century”, “Silk Road and its potential for international cooperation”, “Silk Roads and culture of peace” and “the UNESCO Silk Road Online Platform”.
Side events organized along the Forum included children’s art exhibition: “The Great Silk Roads in the eyes of children”, and a guided tour to the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Petroglyphs of the Archaeological Landscape «Tamgaly»”.
The official launch of the Silk Road Online Platform thus represents an important outcome of the Forum. This UNESCO Platform is the world's first integrated online platform comprising a research database on the ongoing worldwide initiatives related to the Great Silk Roads.
Based on the discussions that took place during the sessions, the Forum recommended following major issues to be undertaken by UNESCO and respective Member States:
- Welcome the creation of the UNESCO's Silk Road Online Platform and its further development as an interdisplinary tool for collecting and sharing quality (accurate) Silk Roads' knowledge;
- Cooperation and stress synergies in field of research and studies on cultural interactions, languages, nomadic and urban cultures, tangible and intangible heritage of the Silk Roads;
- In the Framwork of International Decade for Rapprochment of Cultures, study and promotion of Great Silk Roads in view of replying to issues of current context of Globalisation in particular Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue;
- Awareness raising on the Silk Roads and development of harmonized educational programs and materials for students, youth communities and children;
- Initiatives for sustainable contact and exchange between Silk Road experts and researchers in countries along the Silk Roads and beyond;
- Protection of Silk Roads World Heritage sites and elements;
- Promotion of Tourism sector of the Silk Roads sites.
