On February 1, the unveiling of the UNESCO Chair on Intercultural Dialogue through the Silk Roads Heritage and the founding ceremony of the Alliance of UNESCO Chairs on Cultural Heritage were held at the Museum of Art and Archaeology, Zhejiang University. The ceremony and symposium brought together UNESCO officials, representatives of UNESCO chairs from multiple countries, and academic leaders both online and in person.
The UNESCO Chair on Silk Roads Heritage, officially established at Zhejiang University in 2025, represents a deep academic commitment to the legacy of intercultural exchange. The chair acts as a global hub for research, education, and innovation dedicated to Silk Road history and heritage conservation, building a systematic knowledge framework, an inclusive education system, and a major digital humanities platform.
The alliance is designed as a practical, project-oriented framework. The UNESCO Chair on Silk Roads Heritage at Zhejiang University is prepared to host the inaugural secretariat for a first term of three years to ensure a stable and effective launch phase. It will enable member chairs from across the globe to collaborate on joint research programs, shared capacity-building projects, and pilot initiatives at heritage sites.