Director-General of UNESCO Azoulay signed the agreement on launching the Chair of UNESCO "Sustainable Heritage Tourism along the Silk Road" at "Silk Road" International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage.  

Essentially, the rector of our university A.Abdukhakimov and the vice-rector Tongqian Tony Zou participated in all the application processes. This process was carried out with the efforts of our highly esteemed Rector. First vice-rector J.Eltazarov, head of the department M.Siddikova, head of departments A.Tukhtamishev, N.Mansurova’s active participation should be acknowledged as well. Our team members, F.Akramova, S.Jumaev, Lizhen Yang, Zhixin Lin, Shixin Guanin, Zaidong Li and Yuanlan Zhong also made contribution to this process.

The purpose of the establishment of this department is to strengthen the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage and cultural monuments in Central Asia, to improve its digitalization and wide usage of digitalization in the field of tourism. In Uzbekistan, attention will also be paid to the development of tourism villages and tourism, poverty reduction, women's empowerment and close cooperation with other UNESCO departments.

In carrying out the activities of the department and promoting UNESCO's priorities in the preservation, promotion and wide usage of cultural heritage in the field of tourism, the vice-rector of our university, prof. Tongqian Zou and associate professor Mаstura Siddikova will work together.