The significant document was signed in the presence of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Secretary-General of the UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili, and the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Aziz Abdukhakimov.

The initiative to assign the status of “World Cultural Capital” to Samarkand at the opening of the event was voiced by the head of state, who called on the foreign delegates present to support the signing of the declaration:

"Holding the anniversary session of the organization in the ancient city of Samarkand, a pearl of the Great Silk Road and a major tourist center of the New Uzbekistan, carries profound symbolic meaning. Samarkand, which made a significant contribution to the development of two great epochs of the Eastern Renaissance, is now becoming one of the modern tourist centers of the world.

I hope that you will support our initiative to declare Samarkand the 'World Capital of Cultural Tourism' and to adopt the corresponding declaration. This prestigious status would recognize the worldwide fame of Samarkand, a city that has carefully preserved its uniqueness and invaluable heritage for centuries, widely known for its tolerance and hospitality."

It is worth noting that the honorary status bestowed upon Samarkand signifies the international recognition of the historic city as an important cultural tourism hub and acknowledges the reforms undertaken to improve its tourist infrastructure, which attracted over 1 billion dollars in investments. The venue for this grand event, the Silk Road Samarkand International Tourist Center, is one of the major projects resulting from these investments.