Written by Laurence Brahm - Published by South China Morning Post on 11/21/2006

For two days last month, it seemed as though the cities dotting the old Silk Road were anticipating the re-establishment of their ancient trading and cultural links.

The occasion was the First Regional Silk Road Mayors’ Forum, held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Mayors gathered from cities including Xining, Lanzhou , Islamabad, the Kazakhstan capital of Astana, and Tehran. Formal speeches gave way to swirling central Asian dancers almost floating on silk. Yes, it did seem as if these centres – in many of the world’s more isolated, disregarded and misunderstood areas – were anticipating a reconnection.

In the final session of talks, the leaders seemed to take a fresh approach to development. “We are confident that peace and development are closely interwoven, and that challenges related to improving living standards, development and equity always remain relevant to the global community,” read one declaration.

The gathering sought to lay the foundations for integrating the region’s economic interests under the UN umbrella. “This is designed to create a platform from which to let people of this region move ahead,” explained Khalid Malik, the UN Development Programme’s (UNDP) resident representative in China. “The 9th to 13th centuries were the golden era of the Silk Road, characterised by free exchanges of ideas and religious philosophies together with commodities.

“For the renewed prosperity of people along the Silk Road, openness is needed. Their cultural diversity should be seen as strength, not weakness. Through this Silk Road Initiative, we are creating a new community based on this diversity.”

The Silk Road Initiative is a programme of the UNDP which takes inspiration from the traditions of the old trade route. Its goal is to further regional co-operation between China and the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

There is nobody more qualified to speak on this subject than Mr Malik. When he walks through the sandy, labyrinthine bazaars of Uzbekistan during conference breaks, many craftsmen look up from their delicate labours and recognise him. One after another, the craftsmen step from their stalls and embrace Mr Malik.

A blacksmith shows him, enthusiastically, how his shop has expanded. A spice merchant offers him cardamom flavoured coffee at his home-turned-teahouse.

In each of these small, craft-based household shops hangs a UNDP certificate, recognising their contributions to Uzbekistan’s national heritage. Each certificate bears Mr Malik’s signature – from when he served as the UN representative to the country nine years ago.

The certificates gave them an umbrella of international protection. They allowed Uzbekistan’s craftsmen to revive their traditions through private enterprise; to sustain their own livelihood and growth in an environment where the state sought to retain control, out of security fears.

“You cannot have sustainable peace without sustainable development,” Mr Malik warns. “People need jobs, better education, careers. History has taught that you need development efforts for that to happen.”

Mr Malik talks while carefully assessing the weave on a restored antique tribal carpet. He shows the weaver-retailer how he could improve his shop to appeal to the tourist market – which has not yet appeared. “We must demonstrate to people that they can invest in their future,” he says.

Laurence Brahm is a global activist, international mediator, political columnist and author. He is the leading advocate of a fresh development paradigm - The Himalayan Consensus - an innovative approach to development.

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