Interview: Cultural heritage of ancient Silk Road vital to Kyrgyzstan: expert

BISHKEK, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- The cultural heritage of the ancient Silk Road holds profound significance for Kyrgyzstan, which continues to strengthen its cooperation with China and other countries in this field, a Kyrgyz expert has said.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Mars Sariev, a political scientist and expert on Central Asian issues from Kyrgyzstan, said that the ancient Silk Road serves as a universal cultural language in international cooperation, bridging countries with diverse political and economic systems around shared historical and cultural values. He noted that Kyrgyzstan's collaboration with China and other nations along the ancient Silk Road in cultural heritage preservation has been developing steadily.

He pointed to the UNESCO World Heritage Site "the Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor" as an important example of a transnational nomination, which has witnessed joint archaeological research, academic consultations and exchanges, as well as collaboration between specialists from China, Kazakhstan and other countries.

"The cultural heritage of the ancient Silk Road is of fundamental importance to Kyrgyzstan, both in historical and cultural terms and in contemporary social and international dimensions," Sariev emphasized, adding that historically, the territory of modern Kyrgyzstan was a key hub for transcontinental routes linking China, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Ancient centers such as Suyab, Burana, and Osh were spaces of intense cultural, religious and technological exchange.

"In contemporary social development, the Silk Road legacy contributes to strengthening intercultural tolerance, shaping the regional identity of Central Asia, developing cultural tourism and creative industries, and enhancing Kyrgyzstan's soft power on the international stage," he noted.

Nowadays, the use of modern technologies -- remote sensing, 3D modeling, artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality -- has opened new opportunities for preserving and promoting the Silk Road heritage, Sariev added.

"These technologies enable non-invasive archaeological research, the creation of digital copies of monuments, the modeling of lost sites and historical landscapes, and the broader accessibility of cultural heritage to global audiences, including young people and the international community," he stressed.

Sariev suggested that efforts to transmit and preserve the ancient Silk Road's cultural heritage be directed toward such areas as joint nominations of UNESCO sites, the creation of a unified digital database for ancient Silk Road sites with standardized methods for description, monitoring and preservation, joint research on modern conservation technologies, training programs, and the development of transnational tourist routes focused not only on mass tourism but also on scientific, educational and cognitive tourism.

Regarding the "Silk Road spirit," whose core values are peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit, Sariev expressed his belief that modern forms of heritage interpretation, including interactive museums, digital exhibitions and VR routes, will play a significant role.

"Therefore, the Silk Road's cultural heritage can become not only an object of protection, but also a living resource for shaping the values of the future through knowledge, technology and international cooperation," he said. ■