Samarkand hosted an international scientific and practical conference on “Brother Cities: A New Model for Sustainable Development and Public Diplomacy” July 25, 2026. 15:30 • 4 min • 386SAMARKAND, July 25. /Dunyo IA/. Yesterday, an international scientific and practical conference entitled “Brother Cities: A New Model of Sustainable Development and Public Diplomacy” was held in Samarkand, reports Dunyo IA correspondent. This prestigious event was organized to further develop cooperation between brother cities, strengthen public diplomacy mechanisms, and expand the international exchange of experience. The event brought together experts and specialists from approximately 20 foreign countries, representatives of city administrations, foreign embassies in Uzbekistan, and international organizations (both online and offline), as well as representatives of government and public organizations, higher education institutions, and the media. This international scientific and practical conference is aimed at strengthening friendship, harmony, and cultural and humanitarian ties between cities through public diplomacy. The event featured discussions on implementing joint projects, exchanging experience, and developing mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of culture, education, tourism, economy, ecology, and innovation. Furthermore, the conference contributed to strengthening mutual understanding and trust between nations, as well as advancing peace and sustainable development through respect for national values and traditions. The conference included a plenary session and three thematic sessions. The main goal of the scientific and practical conference, which took place during the plenary session entitled “Brother Cities: A New Model of Sustainable Development and Public Diplomacy” was to engage in a scientific and practical discussion of cooperation between brother cities as an important mechanism for public diplomacy, as well as to further strengthen mutual trust, cultural integration, and humanitarian ties between peoples through international contacts at the local level. During the first session, entitled “Trade, Economic, and Investment Cooperation between Brother Cities and Regions”, issues related to the