1. In 1988, UNESCO launched the project "Routes of Dialogue: An Integrative Study of the Silk Roads"
In 1988, UNESCO initiated the project "Routes of Dialogue: An Integrative Study of the Silk Roads". As part of the World Decade for Cultural Development, the project aimed to address complex cultural interactions originating from East-West exchanges, which helped shape diverse identities and rich shared heritage of peoples across Asia and Europe. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, it promoted research on themes related to the Silk Roads by organizing international scientific expeditions, seminars and conferences. At each stage, partnerships were established between researchers and the media to publicize research activities and outcomes, thereby reviving global interest in the Silk Roads.
2. In 1993, the Spanish section of the Camino de Santiago was inscribed on the World Heritage List
Following the inscription of the Spanish section of the Camino de Santiago (Santiago de Compostela, Spain) on the World Heritage List in 1993, linear cultural heritage sites from various countries around the world were successively added to the List.
3. In 1998, ICOMOS established the International Scientific Committee on Cultural Routes
In 1998, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) set up the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Cultural Routes (IICC). This marked the international heritage conservation community’s recognition of transregional and transnational cultural routes or cultural itineraries characterized by "exchange and dialogue" as a new heritage concept.
4. March 2003: Revision of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention
In March 2003, the World Heritage Committee entrusted ICOMOS to revise the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, incorporating provisions concerning cultural routes.
5. 1 November 2005: Almaty Conference
At a thematic conference held in Almaty in November 2005, Central Asian participants all supported including selected Silk Road sites in Central Asia within the serial nomination, so as to reflect their values and strategic significance along the entire Silk Roads. At the UNESCO Regional Seminar for Central Asia held in Almaty, Kazakhstan in November 2005, representatives from member states of the region unanimously adopted a plan to inscribe the Central Asian segments of the Silk Roads as linear heritage.
6. October 2005: 15th General Assembly and Scientific Symposium of ICOMOS
In October 2005, the 15th ICOMOS General Assembly and Scientific Symposium was held in Xi’an, China. Cultural Routes was listed as one of the four major themes. The assembly produced the Xi’an Declaration, a consensus document for international cultural heritage conservation, and adopted the Draft Charter on Cultural Routes (5th Draft).
7. October 2006: Samarkand Conference
In October 2006, the Samarkand Conference further advanced the preparation of the Tentative List for the Silk Roads World Heritage nomination.
8. 3 August 2006: International Coordination Meeting on the Silk Roads World Heritage Nomination
On 3 August 2006, the International Coordination Meeting on the Silk Roads World Heritage Nomination, co-hosted by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and China’s State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH), convened in Turpan, Xinjiang. The meeting formulated a future joint action framework, and fifty delegates from Central Asian countries, China and UNESCO further endorsed the initiative. This signalled the entry of the transnational Silk Roads joint nomination into a substantive preparation phase.
9. July 2006: First Expert Meeting on Selection of Nomination Sites
In July 2006, the first expert meeting discussing the selection of nomination sites was held in Beijing.
10. 2006: Five Central Asian Countries Attended Two Coordination Meetings Convened by the World Heritage Committee
In 2006, the five Central Asian countries successively took part in two coordination meetings organized by the World Heritage Committee. In light of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention and national realities, participants exchanged views on the definition of Silk Roads cultural heritage, inscription criteria, working mechanisms and progress schedules.
11. 2006: Five Central Asian Countries Attended Two Coordination Meetings Convened by the World Heritage Committee
In 2006, the five Central Asian countries successively took part in two coordination meetings organized by the World Heritage Committee. In light of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention and national realities, participants exchanged views on the definition of Silk Roads cultural heritage, inscription criteria, working mechanisms and progress schedules.
12. October 2007: Representatives from China and Five Central Asian Countries Signed the Concept Paper for the Silk Roads Nomination
In October 2007, representatives from China and the five Central Asian countries signed the Concept Paper concerning the Silk Roads nomination at UNESCO Headquarters in France. The document confirmed the basic definition, scope and framework of the Silk Roads, clarified nomination strategies and procedures, and prioritized the Chinese and Central Asian segments of the Desert Routes of the Silk Roads as the scope for Phase I nomination.
13. October 2007: International Academic Symposium on the Transnational Serial World Heritage Nomination of the Silk Roads
In October 2007, the International Academic Symposium on the Transnational Serial World Heritage Nomination of the Silk Roads was held in Xi’an, attended by more than 200 delegates from over 10 countries and international organizations.
14. September 2007: Confirmation of the First Batch Recommended List of Sites for the Silk Roads Joint World Heritage Nomination
In September 2007, on the basis of field evaluation and recommendations put forward by the Chinese Expert Committee for World Cultural Heritage, SACH finalized the first batch recommended list of sites for the Silk Roads joint World Heritage nomination.
15. April 2007: UNESCO Regional Seminar on the Silk Roads World Heritage Nomination
At the UNESCO Regional Seminar on the Silk Roads World Heritage Nomination held in April 2007, five countries including China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan adopted the Concept Paper.
16. January 2007: China and Five Central Asian Countries Officially Launched the Holistic Silk Roads World Cultural Heritage Nomination
In January 2007, China together with five Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, officially launched the work for the holistic World Cultural Heritage nomination of the Silk Roads.
17. October 2008: Adoption of the ICOMOS Charter on Cultural Routes
In October 2008, ICOMOS adopted the ICOMOS Charter on Cultural Routes, marking the formal establishment of Cultural Routes as a new field within World Heritage conservation.
18. June 2008: 4th International Coordination Meeting on the Transnational Serial Nomination of the Silk Roads
In June 2008, the 4th International Coordination Meeting on the Transnational Serial Nomination of the Silk Roads convened in Xi’an.
19. January 2008: Coordination Meeting on the Silk Roads World Heritage Nomination
In January 2008, SACH hosted the Coordination Meeting on the Silk Roads World Heritage Nomination in Lanzhou. At the meeting, the tentative list of 48 heritage sites across six provincial-level regions in China for the Chinese section of the Silk Roads joint nomination was announced, alongside a timetable for nomination activities.
20. November 2009: 1st Meeting of the Coordination Committee for the Transnational Serial Nomination of the Silk Roads
In November 2009, the 1st Meeting of the Coordination Committee for the Transnational Serial Nomination of the Silk Roads opened in Xi’an, attracting nearly 60 government representatives and heritage conservation experts from 15 countries including the five Central Asian nations, China, India and Iran.
21. May 2009: 5th UNESCO Regional Seminar on the Silk Roads Joint Nomination
In May 2009, national delegates attended the 5th UNESCO Regional Seminar on the Silk Roads Joint Nomination in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
22. November 2010: Seminar on Silk Roads Values and World Heritage Nomination Work
In November 2010, the Seminar on Silk Roads Values and World Heritage Nomination Work was organized. Hosted by SACH, co-organized by Shaanxi Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage, and undertaken by ICOMOS International Conservation Centre Xi’an (IICC-X).
23. August 2010: Large-scale Media Expedition "Revival of the Silk Roads"
In August 2010, the large-scale media expedition "Revival of the Silk Roads" was initiated by ICOMOS International Conservation Centre Xi’an (IICC-X).
24. February 2010: Seminar on Serial Heritage and Serial Nomination held in Ittingen, Switzerland
In February 2010, experts from UNESCO and ICOMOS convened the Seminar on Serial Heritage and Serial Nomination in Ittingen, Switzerland.
25. May 2011: 2nd Meeting of the Silk Roads Coordination Committee held in Turkmenistan
In May 2011, the 2nd Meeting of the Silk Roads Coordination Committee was held in Turkmenistan.
26. 21 November – 1 December 2012: 3rd Working Group Meeting of "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor" held in Beijing
The 3rd Working Group Meeting of "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor" took place in Beijing from 21 November to 1 December 2012. Hosted by SACH, the meeting was undertaken by IICC-X.
27. 9–13 September 2012: 2nd Working Group Meeting of "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor"
The 2nd Working Group Meeting of "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor" was held in Beijing from 9 to 13 September 2012. Hosted by SACH, it was undertaken by ICOMOS International Conservation Centre Xi’an (IICC-X).
28. 8–15 July 2012: 1st Working Group Meeting of "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor"
The 1st Working Group Meeting of "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor" convened in Beijing from 8 to 15 July 2012. Hosted by SACH, the meeting was undertaken by ICOMOS International Conservation Centre Xi’an (IICC-X).
29. 14–15 June 2012: Expert Meeting on Transnational Nomination of the Silk Roads Corridor held in Samarkand
A two-day expert meeting for the transnational World Heritage nomination of the Pendjikent-Samarkand-Merv Silk Roads Corridor was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on 14–15 June 2012.
30. 22–23 April 2012: International Seminar on Monitoring and Management of Cultural Routes
The International Seminar on Monitoring and Management of Cultural Routes was held in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, on 22–23 April 2012.
31. 22–23 March 2012: Expert Meeting of the Coordination Committee for the Transnational Serial Nomination of the Silk Roads
On 22–23 March 2012, the Expert Meeting of the Coordination Committee for the Transnational Serial Nomination of the Silk Roads was held in Tashkent. Co-hosted by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, UNESCO Almaty Office and UNESCO Tashkent Office, the event received support from the Department for Conservation and Utilization of Cultural Resources under the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Uzbekistan and the International Institute for Central Asian Studies (IICAS), a UNESCO Category II Centre based in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
32. 18 October 2013: International Experts Conduct Field Mission to Bingling Temple Silk Roads Nomination Site
On 18 October, Dr. Lynne Distefano, international evaluator for World Heritage, carried out an on-site evaluation of Bingling Temple, a Silk Roads nomination site. She was accompanied by experts and officials including Chen Tongbin, Director of the Institute of Historic Buildings, China Architecture Design & Research Group, and Tang Wei, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Cultural Heritage Conservation and Archaeology, SACH.
33. 16–20 October 2013: International Experts Conduct Field Evaluation of Silk Roads Nomination Sites in Gansu Province
Between 16 and 20 October, Ms. Lynne Distefano, international evaluator delegated by ICOMOS, advisory body of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, conducted field assessment of five Silk Roads nomination sites in Gansu Province: Maijishan Grottoes, Bingling Temple Grottoes, Suoyang City Ruins, Yumen Pass and Xuanquanzhi Ruins. Her visit was accompanied by Chen Tongbin, Director of the Institute of Historic Buildings, China Architecture Design & Research Group, Tang Wei, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Cultural Heritage Conservation and Archaeology, SACH, and other experts and officials.
34. 13 October 2013: International Expert Team Undertakes Field Evaluation of Xiao-Han Ancient Road in Sanmenxia City
On 13 October, Japanese experts dispatched by ICOMOS under UNESCO carried out field inspection and evaluation of the Shihao Section of the Xiao-Han Ancient Road, part of the Henan component of China’s Silk Roads World Heritage nomination in Sanmenxia City.
The mission conducted comprehensive on-site assessment of the World Heritage nomination of the Shihao Section in Sanmenxia, listened to briefings on heritage conservation and management, and evaluated archaeological research, conservation and presentation, environmental improvement, archive establishment and heritage monitoring at each nominated site.
The inspection was accompanied by Lu Qiong, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Cultural Heritage Conservation and Archaeology, SACH, Lu Guoxian, Member of the Party Leadership Group of Henan Provincial Government, Chen Ailan, Director of Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage, and Zhao Haiyan, Mayor of Sanmenxia Municipal People’s Government.
35. 13 October 2013: Xin’an Hangu Pass Receives Field Evaluation by UNESCO Experts for Silk Roads Nomination
On 13 October, distinguished archaeologists representing ICOMOS, advisory body to the World Heritage Committee and commissioned by UNESCO, visited Xin’an County to conduct on-site evaluation of Xin’an Hangu Pass for the Silk Roads nomination. The delegation was accompanied by Lu Qiong, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Cultural Heritage Conservation and Archaeology, SACH, Sun Yingmin, Deputy Director of Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage, Wang Xizhong, Deputy Secretary-General of the municipal government, and Yu Jie, Deputy Director of the Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics.
The expert group inspected the exhibition hall, archive room, monitoring station, ruin site and archaeological excavation area of Hangu Pass. They assessed archaeological research, conservation and presentation, environmental management, conservation administration, archive development and heritage monitoring, and received a work report on conservation and management of Hangu Pass along the Silk Roads.
36. 12–17 October 2013: International Experts Carry Out Field Visit to Silk Roads Nomination Sites in Shaanxi Province
From 12 to 17 October, Dr. Lynne Distefano, international World Heritage evaluator, conducted field visits to seven Silk Roads nomination sites in Shaanxi Province: Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Weiyang Palace Site of Chang’an City of the Han Dynasty, Daming Palace Site of Chang’an City of the Tang Dynasty and Xingjiao Temple. After inspecting conservation zones of all sites, Dr. Distefano fully recognized nomination preparations in Shaanxi.
The field mission was accompanied by Chen Tongbin, Director of the Institute of Historic Buildings, China Architecture Design & Research Group, Tang Wei, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Cultural Heritage Conservation and Archaeology, SACH, Zhou Kuiying, Inspector of Shaanxi Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage and Director of the Shaanxi Silk Roads Nomination Office, and Wang Chunli, Vice Mayor of Xi’an.
37. 7–8 October 2013: Silk Roads Tourism Strategy Seminar held in Almaty
On 7–8 October 2013, the Silk Roads Tourism Strategy Seminar jointly organized by UNESCO, the World Tourism Organization and the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held in Almaty.
38. 6 August 2013: Work Meeting on the Grand Canal and Silk Roads World Heritage Nomination convened in Beijing
On 6 August 2013, the Work Meeting on the Grand Canal and Silk Roads World Heritage Nomination, hosted by SACH, was held in Beijing. Tong Mingkang, Deputy Director of SACH, attended and delivered an important address. Participants included persons-in-charge from provincial cultural heritage bureaus along the Grand Canal and Silk Roads, nomination dossier compiling institutions and relevant professional bodies. Feng Jian, Executive Deputy Director of IICC-X, and Li Erwu, Head of the Information Centre of IICC-X, were also invited to attend.
39. 30 July – 1 August 2013: SACH Pre-evaluation Inspection Team Guides Nomination Work at Jiaohe Ruins and Gaochang Ruins
From 30 July to 1 August, a seven-member pre-evaluation inspection team for the Silk Roads nomination led by Liu Qingzhu, Member of the Academic Divisions of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Lu Qiong, Deputy Director-General of the World Cultural Heritage Department of SACH, supervised nomination preparations at Jiaohe Ruins and Gaochang Ruins.
In strict accordance with procedures and requirements for international expert field evaluations, the panel inspected nomination archives, exhibition halls, Jiaohe Ruins and Gaochang Ruins, and organized a consultation forum with heritage stakeholders. The expert team highly commended Turpan Prefectural Committee and Administrative Office for their substantial efforts in nomination work, and put forward suggestions to rectify existing deficiencies.
40. 26 July – 1 August 2013: SACH Pre-evaluation Inspection Team Reviews Silk Roads Nomination Work in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
Between 26 July and 1 August 2013, a seven-member pre-evaluation inspection team headed by Liu Qingzhu, Member of the Academic Divisions of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Lu Qiong, Deputy Director-General of the World Cultural Heritage Department of SACH, inspected nomination progress at Kizil Grottoes, Subashi Buddhist Temple Ruins, Kizilgaha Beacon Tower, Beiting City Ruins, Jiaohe Ruins and Gaochang Ruins.
Following formal international evaluation standards, the experts examined nomination archives, exhibition facilities and monitoring systems, and convened a stakeholder forum. The team praised strong commitment from the Changji Hui Autonomous Prefectural People’s Government and Turpan authorities, and proposed improvements to identified problems.
41. 23–25 July 2013: Domestic Experts Organized by SACH Conduct Pre-inspection of Xi’an Silk Roads Nomination Sites
From 23 to 25 July, a pre-evaluation expert panel including An Jiayao, Research Fellow at the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Chen Tongbin, Director of the Institute of Historic Buildings, China Architecture Design & Research Group, carried out pre-inspection of nomination and reception arrangements for Xi’an’s Silk Roads sites: Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Weiyang Palace Site, Daming Palace Site and Xingjiao Temple, accompanied by officials from SACH and Shaanxi and Xi’an municipal governments.
42. 16–27 June 2013: 37th Session of the World Heritage Committee held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
The 37th Session of the World Heritage Committee took place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from 16 to 27 June 2013, attended by over 1,000 delegates from more than 120 countries. Guo Zhan, Director of IICC-X and Vice President of ICOMOS, and Li Erwu, Head of the IICC-X Information Centre, participated in the session.
43. 3 May 2013: Technical Seminar on the Silk Roads World Heritage Nomination held in Xi’an
On 3 May 2013, the Technical Seminar on the Silk Roads World Heritage Nomination was held in Xi’an. Hosted by SACH and undertaken by IICC-X, the seminar brought together representatives from SACH, cultural heritage administrations of Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu and Xinjiang, competent authorities of 11 prefectures and cities involved in the first batch nomination, management institutions of 22 nominated sites and relevant professional organizations.
44. 18 April 2013: Series Campaign "Heritage of Education" for International Day for Monuments and Sites (18 April) Successfully Held
On 18 April 2013, the series publicity campaign "Heritage of Education" marking International Day for Monuments and Sites was launched in Xi’an. Organized by ICOMOS International Conservation Centre Xi’an (IICC-X), the activity was co-hosted by Xi’an Louguan Temple, Qinglong Temple, Xi’an Beilin Museum, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Northwest University and Xi’an Jiaotong University. Tens of thousands of participants took part, including staff of organizers, urban orienteering athletes, university volunteers, pupils from Xiaoyan Ta Primary School and members of the public interested in educational heritage.
45. 4 March 2013: Signing Ceremony of the Joint Agreement on the Conservation of Silk Roads Heritage held in Beijing
On 4 March 2013, the signing ceremony of the Joint Agreement on the Conservation of Silk Roads Heritage was held in Beijing between SACH and the people’s governments of Henan Province, Shaanxi Province, Gansu Province, Qinghai Province, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
46. 28 February 2013: Promotion Meeting on Silk Roads World Heritage Nomination held in Xi’an
On 28 February 2013, the Promotion Meeting on Silk Roads World Heritage Nomination was convened in Xi’an. Hosted by SACH, co-organized by Shaanxi Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage and undertaken by IICC-X.
47. 28 January 2013: Silk Roads Transnational Serial Nomination Dossier Successfully Submitted
On 28 January 2013, staff dispatched jointly by the Institute of Historic Buildings, China Architecture Design & Research Group and IICC-X travelled to UNESCO Headquarters in Paris and successfully delivered and submitted the transnational serial World Heritage nomination dossier of the Silk Roads.
48. October 2013: Experts Commissioned by the World Heritage Committee Conduct Field Missions to Silk Roads Nomination Sites
49. 22 June 2014: At the 38th Session of the World Heritage Committee held in Qatar, China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Successfully Inscribed "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor"
50. 24–25 November 2015: 4th Meeting of the Coordination Committee for the Transnational Serial World Heritage Nomination of the Silk Roads held in Almaty, Kazakhstan
The 4th Meeting of the Coordination Committee for the Transnational Serial World Heritage Nomination of the Silk Roads took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 24–25 November 2015. It brought together heritage authorities and specialists from nine member states and three partner countries. As the international secretariat of the Coordination Committee, IICC-X participated throughout the meeting. Participants systematically summarized successful experience from the inscription of "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor", reviewed progress of subsequent nominations including the Fergana-Syr Darya Corridor and South Asian Corridor, and established an overall framework for Silk Roads nominations featuring corridor-based advancement and transnational cooperation. The Almaty Accord was signed to clarify nomination timetables and technical roadmaps for each corridor in the next phase.
51. 4–5 September 2017: Seminar on Nomination Procedures for the Serial Transnational World Heritage of the South Asian Silk Roads held in Xi’an
On 4–5 September 2017, the Seminar on Nomination Procedures for the Serial Transnational World Heritage of the South Asian Silk Roads was held in Xi’an. Hosted by SACH and undertaken by IICC-X, the seminar gathered representatives from the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and heritage specialists from corridor countries including China, Nepal and India. In-depth discussions focused on core themes including recognition of heritage values of the South Asian Corridor, standards for dossier preparation, construction of transnational cooperation mechanisms and development of conservation and management systems, defining technical approaches and phased targets for its transnational nomination.
52. 2 October 2018: Working Group Meeting on Dossier Compilation for "Silk Roads: Fergana-Syr Darya Corridor" held in Almaty, Kazakhstan
On 2 October 2018, the Working Group Meeting on the transnational serial World Heritage nomination dossier for "Silk Roads: Fergana-Syr Darya Corridor" convened in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Nomination experts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan attended, with IICC-X sending representatives to provide technical support. Consensus was reached on drafting standards, site selection principles and requirements for conservation management plans. Work simultaneously commenced on an overall corridor management strategy, marking the entry of the second Central Asian Silk Roads corridor into substantive dossier drafting phase.
53. 4–5 December 2018: 5th Meeting of the Coordination Committee for the Transnational Silk Roads World Heritage Nomination held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
The 5th Meeting of the Coordination Committee for the Transnational Silk Roads World Heritage Nomination was held in Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan, on 4–5 December 2018. Delegates and experts from 13 corridor countries, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, IICC-X, IICAS and other institutions took part. Participants reviewed conservation and management conditions of "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor", formally incorporated the South Asian Corridor into the overall Silk Roads transnational nomination system, and advanced preparatory work for the Fergana-Syr Darya Corridor and Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor. The IICC-X Secretariat delivered an annual report on special initiatives including the Silk Roads heritage archive platform construction and international capacity-building training.
54. 22–26 September 2019: 6th Meeting of the Coordination Committee for the Transnational Serial World Heritage Nomination of the Silk Roads held in Hamadan, Iran
The 6th Meeting of the Coordination Committee for the Transnational Serial World Heritage Nomination of the Silk Roads was organized in Hamadan, Iran, from 22 to 26 September 2019. The meeting comprehensively reviewed outcomes of the previous five committee sessions, examined progress on drafting the third periodic report for the Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor, and clarified nomination timelines and task allocation for the Fergana-Syr Darya Corridor and Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor. As secretariat, IICC-X reported achievements including the development of the digital Silk Roads heritage database, technical assistance to corridor nations and capacity-building training, and put forward proposals to optimize future transnational cooperation mechanisms.
55. December 2019: IICC-X Officially Launches Heritage Conservation and Management Cooperation Project for the Tajikistan Section of the Fergana-Syr Darya Corridor
Entrusted by SACH, ICOMOS International Conservation Centre Xi’an (IICC-X) officially implemented the Heritage Conservation and Management Cooperation Project for the Tajikistan segment of the Fergana-Syr Darya Corridor in December 2019. During implementation, the Chinese team supported Tajik counterparts through online meetings and field technical guidance to carry out heritage inventory surveys, draft conservation management plans and build heritage information databases. Capacity-building training programmes covering heritage conservation management and monitoring technologies were also planned to provide full-spectrum technical support for Tajikistan’s nomination work.
56. November 2020: Online Cooperation Meeting on Conservation Management Plan for Tajikistan Section of Fergana-Syr Darya Corridor Nomination
In November 2020, an online cooperation meeting concerning the conservation management plan for nominated sites on the Tajikistan segment of the Fergana-Syr Darya Corridor was convened, bringing together Chinese and Tajik specialists engaged in Silk Roads World Heritage nomination. Both sides held in-depth exchanges covering drafting of conservation management plans, World Heritage nomination procedures and criteria, establishment of heritage monitoring frameworks and integrated development of cultural heritage and tourism. The IICC-X technical team proposed systematic solutions addressing key challenges encountered by Tajikistan in nomination preparations. In parallel, a feasibility report for the Tajikistan segment conservation management plan was finalized.
57. September 2023: "Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor" Inscribed on the World Heritage List at the 45th Session of the World Heritage Committee
In September 2023, at the 45th Session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, "Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor", jointly nominated by Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, was successfully inscribed on the World Heritage List. It became the second transnational Silk Roads corridor to receive World Heritage status after the Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor, marking a major milestone in the serial transnational nomination of the Silk Roads. Serving as the international secretariat of the Coordination Committee, IICC-X provided continuous technical consultation, international coordination and experience-sharing support throughout the nomination process.
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