Photo: Courtesy of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Beijing

A presentation of the book Biography of Samarkand – One Hundred Cities on the Silk Road was successfully held at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Beijing on Monday.

The book was written by 11 Uzbek scientists. It vividly elaborates on the history of the ancient city of Samarkand, known as the pearl of the Silk Road. It describes in historical chronological order the thousand-year history from the origins of the city to the present day. The book also talks about the historical connection and cooperation between Samarkand and China and the Silk Road.

With fruitful exchanges, the event was attended by Ambassador of Uzbekistan to China Farhod Arziev, Vice President of the China Foreign Language Publishing Administration Yu Tao, President of the New Star publishing house Ma Rujun, Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Sohail Khan, and founder and Secretary General of the Beijing Club for International Dialogue Han Hua.

In 2013, when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Uzbekistan, he praised the historical heritage of Samarkand and its representation of the country’s ethnicity and culture, Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan, wrote in the book’s preface. 

Mirziyoyev also underscored the significance of the book, which will boost relations between China and Uzbekistan and improve cultural exchanges for both countries.

Mirziyoyev’s sentiments were echoed by Yu. “This book can connect the two countries and boost friendly relations,” he said at the event. 

In September 2022, Samarkand was the venue for a meeting of the Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and in October 2023, the 25th session of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) also convened in Samarkand. Today, Samarkand has become a venue for major internationally significant events.

Launched in 2022, the book was supported by the Chinese Administration for Publication and Distribution of Literature in Foreign Languages and the New Star Publishing House.