Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Deputy Director General of UNESCO for Culture Ernesto Ottone sent a welcoming message to the participants and guests of the Week of Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan, which starts in Tashkent on 15 December this year.

In his speech, Ottoe stressed that Uzbekistan has five UNESCO World Heritage Sites and six elements included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

“The cultural wealth of Uzbekistan can become an important basis for building the future of the country. Culture gives a sense of identity and makes communities more resilient and cities more innovative. At the same time, cultural heritage and creativity play a critical role in reducing poverty by creating jobs and improving the well-being of the population,” said Ernesto Ottone.

He added that he highly appreciates the efforts of Uzbekistan, which places culture at the center of its development strategy, which is fully consistent with UNESCO’s mission in the field of culture.