UNESCO Chair at Zhejiang University revives spirit of the Silk Road

A major dual initiative to advance international cooperation on cultural heritage has been inaugurated at Zhejiang University, marking a significant step in global academic collaboration. The university hosted 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 last Sunday.

The ceremony and symposium, held at the university's Museum of Art and Archaeology and supported by the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia as well as the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, brought together UNESCO officials, representatives of UNESCO chairs from multiple countries, and academic leaders both online and in person.

A UNESCO chair is not a ceremonial title but an internationally recognized research and education platform hosted by a university. Established through a formal agreement with UNESCO, the host institution leads global cooperation in a specific field — in this case, Silk Road heritage — through research, teaching, training and international partnerships.

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. Led by a team under Zhao Feng, a distinguished professor known for textile archaeology and Silk Road studies, the chair acts as a global hub for research, education, and innovation dedicated to Silk Road history and heritage conservation.

"The origins of the Belt and Road Initiative lie in the Silk Road, which is first and foremost a world cultural heritage shared and recognized by all humanity," says Zhao."The significance of this chair therefore rests in the fact that, on UNESCO's platform, there is now — for the first time — a chair dedicated specifically to Silk Road heritage. It represents not only a team, but also a community united by shared values and goals. Through cross-cultural dialogue along the Silk Road, it enables the advancement of heritage protection and research, deepens understanding of civilizational exchange, and helps strengthen the foundation of people-to-people connectivity."

In his address, Professor Ma Yanming, president of Zhejiang University, highlighted the initiative's broader meaning. "Silk Road history is a history of dialogue. This chair continues its timeless spirit of openness and mutual learning," he stated. The university will leverage its interdisciplinary strengths to support the chair's mission in heritage revitalization and sustainable development.

The chair has already established a strong foundation by achieving significant phased results across multiple areas in 2025. In terms of infrastructure, the Textile Archaeology Laboratory was completed and inaugurated at the University's Xixi Campus in June. Academically, it hosted four influential international conferences and workshops and served as a core organizer of the Ninth Symposium of IASSRT (International Association for the Study of Silk Road Textiles) held at the University of California, Berkeley. Its strategic plan for the next four years focuses on building a systematic knowledge framework, an inclusive education system, and a major digital humanities platform.

Building on this momentum, the newly formed Alliance of UNESCO Chairs on Cultural Heritage aims to create a powerful global network. Proposed by the Zhejiang University Chair in collaboration with fellow UNESCO Chairs worldwide, the alliance seeks to transform dialogue into concrete action.

The alliance is designed as a practical, project-oriented framework, and 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.

Its governance will include a general assembly of all members as the supreme decision-making body, an elected council responsible for executive oversight, and a secretariat office to manage coordination, communication, and administrative functions. 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.

Looking forward, the parallel initiatives have outlined key goals for 2026. The chair will upgrade its "World Silk Interactive Map" digital platform and launch the English-language Journal of Silk Roads Heritage. Concurrently, the alliance will solidify its operational mechanisms and promote its first wave of joint international projects.

Together, the UNESCO Chair and the global alliance establish a high-level platform for scholarly exchange and collaborative action. They exemplify a modern commitment to the Silk Road spirit, leveraging shared history to build bridges for today's world through cultural heritage.

zhaoxu@chinadaily.com.cn