Leading Chinese space company: Baku is the key link connecting the Silk Road's past and future

China's "Starvision Aerospace" has joined the preparation process for the International Space Technology Conference (STC 2026) to be held in Uzbekistan, highlighting Baku's role as a primary hub of both the historical and modern Silk Road.

As part of this initiative, the company presented a visual analysis based on satellite data. The analysis centers on two symbolic architectural monuments of the capital: the Maiden Tower and the Flame Towers complex.

The report notes that the Maiden Tower, located in the Old City (Icherisheher), has served as a vital historical landmark and one of the core connecting elements of the Silk Road routes for over a thousand years. Meanwhile, the modern Flame Towers symbolize Baku's dynamic development and its position as a center for energy and innovation.

According to assessments by Starvision Aerospace, satellite observations allow these sites to be presented as a unified visual and conceptual landscape, reflecting the city's transformation from an ancient trade center into a modern hub of the global economy. It was noted that this approach opens new opportunities to study the evolution of the Silk Road’s transport and economic links more deeply through space analytics.

While STC 2025 was hosted in Baku last year, STC 2026 in Uzbekistan will bring together leading space agencies and scientific organizations, including "Uzcosmos," "Azercosmos," "Turkish Aerospace," Middle East Technical University, TÜBİTAK, and Kazakhstan's "Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary."

The conference will feature discussions on the application of space technologies for developing transport corridors, sustainable infrastructure, and strengthening cooperation across Central Eurasia.