The UNESCO Chair on Silk Roads Heritage at Zhejiang University was formally established in early 2025, with Professor Zhao Feng, Qiushi Distinguished Professor, appointed as Chairholder. In May 2025 a cooperation agreement was signed between Zhejiang University, represented by President Ma Yanming, and UNESCO, represented by Director-General Audrey Azoulay.
The Chair is mandated to safeguard the heritage of the Silk Roads — both its material legacy and its historical memory — and to promote transnational research and cooperation. It works through academic publications, international networks, scholarly symposia and handicraft-training programmes, creating inclusive learning opportunities for communities along the Silk Roads.