On June 2, 2025, the China-Uzbekistan Ancient Capitals Forum was held at the “Silk Road” International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage (SIUT) in Uzbekistan. The forum was hosted by the People’s Government of Shaanxi Province, China, and the Samarkand Regional Government, Uzbekistan. It was jointly organized by the Education Department of Shaanxi Provincial Government, Northwest University (NWU), and SIUT.
The opening ceremony was attended and addressed by Rustam Kobilov, Deputy Governor of Samarkand Region, Uzbekistan; WANG Shusheng, Director of the Education Department of Shaanxi Provincial Government; SUN Qingwei, President of NWU; Nasimov Dilmurod, First Vice-Rector of SIUT; and Abdukodir Tashkulov, Rector of Termez State University.
President SUN Qingwei and Rector Abdukodir Tashkulov signed a cooperation agreement. Under this agreement, the two universities will jointly establish and manage the Termez Branch Center of the NWU China-Central Asia Human and Environment Belt and Road Joint Laboratory, fostering in-depth collaboration in cultural heritage protection, environmental research, and talent cultivation.
During the forum, six scholars from China and Uzbekistan engaged in in-depth discussions centered on the theme “The Vital Role of Ancient Cities in the Development of Silk Road Civilizations.” Focusing on the two World Heritage cities of Xi’an and Samarkand, they systematically shared cutting-edge practices and academic achievements in cultural heritage protection.
