To protect and inherit the precious cultural heritage along the Silk Road, and to exchange and explore new concepts, methods, and technologies for cultural heritage protection and utilization, the "History · Art · Technology - International Symposium on the Protection and Utilization of Silk Road Cultural Heritage" was held in Samarkand Uzbekistan, from October 3 to October 6. The symposium was co-organized by the School of Cultural Heritage at Northwesr University of China, Silk Road Archaeological Cooperation Research Center, the China-Central Asia Joint Laboratory for Human and Environment on the Belt and Road (C-CHEL), the International Centre on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage (HIST) under UNESCO, the Xi’an International Conservation Center of ICOMOS (IICC-X), the Cultural Heritage Education Professional Committee of the China Cultural Relics Conservation Technology Association, the Dunhuang Academy, “Silk Road” International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage in Uzbekistan, the Yakhyo Gulomov Institute of Archaeology under the Cultural Heritage Agency of Uzbekistan, the National Archaeological Center of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, the National History Museum of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, and Termez State University, and the Termez Archaeological Museum.

A total of 56 representatives from eight countries, including China, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Russia, and France, attended the symposium. The opening ceremony was held at “Silk Road” International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage in Samarkand, hosted by Professor Zou Tongqian, Vice Rector of the university.

During the opening ceremony, Dilmurod Nasimov, First Vice Rector of “Silk Road” International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage in Uzbekistan, extended his welcome and gratitude to the scholars and guests from various countries. He emphasized that the symposium would significantly promote the cooperation and research on Silk Road cultural heritage among universities and academic institutions from different countries.

In his online speech, Sun Qingwei, President of Northwest University of China, noted that the university has achieved significant accomplishments in the fields of Silk Road archaeology and cultural heritage protection, including scientific research, personnel training, and platform creation."

At the symposium, Rustam Kobylov, Deputy Governor of Samarkand Region, Uzbekistan; Guo Huadong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Wang Jianxin, Chief Scientist of the China Silk Road Archaeological Cooperation Research Center; Feng Jian, Executive Deputy Director of IICC-X; and Evren Rutbil, Director of the International Institute for Central Asian Studies (IICAS) under UNESCO, delivered online and offline speeches successively.

During the symposium, 30 experts and scholars exchanged speeches on topics such as "Concepts, Methods, and Practices of Silk Road Cultural Heritage Protection", "Research on Technologies for Protecting Silk Road Sites," and "Research on the Conservation and Restoration of Silk Road Artifacts."