Kyrgyzstan has been elected to the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2025–2029 term following a vote held on 7 November 2025 in Samarkand during the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.
Kyrgyzstan received 163 votes, alongside India (163), Malaysia (167), China (162), Thailand (161), and Japan (159).
The Executive Board is one of UNESCO’s key governing bodies, responsible for preparing the work of the General Conference, implementing its decisions, and setting the organization’s strategic and programmatic priorities. It consists of 58 member states elected for four-year terms.
This marks Kyrgyzstan’s second term on the Executive Board, having previously served from 2019 to 2023. The country also has significant experience within UNESCO structures, including membership in the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (2012–2016), the World Heritage Committee (2017–2021), and the Intergovernmental Council of the International Programme for the Development of Communication (2017–2021).
Kyrgyzstan’s re-election reflects recognition of its active engagement in promoting UNESCO’s goals, strengthening intercultural dialogue, and advancing sustainable development. Membership enables the country to help shape UNESCO’s strategic direction, promote the priorities of Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia, and enhance international cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication.
According to the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry, this success was made possible through the coordinated efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Delegation of Kyrgyzstan to UNESCO - headed by Ambassador Sadyk Sher-Niyaz - and the National Commission for UNESCO, which have worked to strengthen the country’s international standing and promote its national interests globally.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
November 10, 2025