Astana, Kazakhstan, 19 May 2026 – The International Symposium “The Golden Horde as a Model of Steppe Civilization: History, Archaeology, Culture, Identity” opened in Astana with the participation of H.E. Mr Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Held under the patronage of UNESCO, the symposium brought together leading scholars, experts, cultural heritage professionals and representatives of the international scientific community to advance research and dialogue on the historical legacy of the Ulus of Jochi, widely known as the Golden Horde, and its role in shaping the cultural and civilisational landscape of Central Eurasia. The event gathered some 350 delegates from more than 20 countries across Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on behalf of the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and Acting Assistant Director-General for Culture, welcomed Kazakhstan’s continued commitment to culture, heritage and multilateral cooperation.
In his remarks, he underlined that the Golden Horde offers an important historical example of cultural diversity, exchange and interaction across Eurasia:
“The Golden Horde is an important embodiment of these values. It reflects a wider history of Eurasia where the steppe served as a vibrant centre of movement, exchange and connection. The Golden Horde was a political and cultural space of remarkable diversity. It was a space where religions, languages, artistic forms and technologies met and influenced one another. It still stands as a powerful historical model of intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity.”
The Golden Horde still stands as a powerful historical model of intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity.
Mr Lazare Eloundou Assomo
Mr Eloundou Assomo noted that the theme of the symposium is closely aligned with UNESCO’s mandate to promote intercultural dialogue, safeguard shared heritage and strengthen international cooperation through culture, education and science.
He also recalled that, for more than three decades, UNESCO’s Silk Roads Programme has demonstrated that the Silk Roads were not only routes of trade, but living corridors of cultural interaction. The lands of modern-day Kazakhstan and neighbouring countries were among the important hubs of these exchanges, connecting peoples, ideas, artistic traditions, technologies and knowledge systems across regions.
The symposium provided a platform for interdisciplinary discussion on the political, cultural, economic and spiritual heritage of the Golden Horde, as well as its relevance for historical scholarship, cultural memory and contemporary understanding of the Great Steppe. It also highlighted the importance of responsible research, preservation and presentation of heritage that extends across the territories of several present-day countries.
The International Symposium in Astana highlighted Kazakhstan’s role as an important centre for the study of the historical and cultural heritage of Central Eurasia, while also underscoring UNESCO’s commitment to promoting shared heritage as a foundation for dialogue, mutual understanding and peace.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/international-symposium-golden-horde-held-astana-under-patronage-unesco?hub=701
