From 22 September to 30 September 2019, the 4th IASSRT (International Association for the Study of Silk Road Textiles) symposium as well as the 5th IASSRT board meeting “Textiles as a historical source” was successfully held in Russia, while mainly in Kislovodsk. The symposium was hosted by IASSRT, co-organized by Nasledie Institute, Scientific Research Institute of Archeology and Ancient History of the North Caucasus, and China National Silk Museum (CNSM), assisted by State Hermitage Museum, and supported by Ministry of Culture of the Karachay-Cherkessk Republic, Kislovodsk Local History Museum "Fortress",  National Museum of the Republic of Adygea, The State Karachay-Cherkess Historical-Cultural and Natural Museum-Reserve, and Astrophysical Observatory of The Russian Academy of Sciences.More than 60 scholars and representatives from more than 18 countries, including China, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Norway, Hungary, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Russia, Israel, the United States, Canada, Korea, Japan, India, Thailand, attended the symposium. While 38 expects and scholars made speeches.  

On the morning of 24 September, the symposium officially opened. Dr. Zvezdana Dode, the rotating IASSRT President of 2019 welcomed the arrival of attendees.   

In the two-day-long symposium, scholars presented new research results on the theme of “Textiles as a historical source” in seven sections. The chief focus of the discussion was the consilience in approach to understanding textiles in the historical context covering topics such as economic and technological development, trade links, diplomatic and political relations, social structure, textiles production and manufacturing, mythology, cosmology and decorative arts, etc. on the territories of the Silk Road (including Oasis and Desert Silk Road, Steppe Silk Road, and Maritime Silk Road).

The symposium provided to a diversified platform for academic exchange. During the study tour, the attendees visited State Hermitage Museum, the State Karachay-Cherkess Historical-Cultural and Natural Museum-Reserve, Zelenchuksky District Local History Museum, Lower Arkhyz Historical-Architectural and Archaeological Complex, Khasout Valley, State Historical Museum, and so forth. They joined in master classes for Technique Caucasian Gold Embroidery and Mountain Traditional Costume through the Ages.  

Another important part of the symposium was the 5th annual IASSRT board meeting on the morning of 24 September. On the meeting, director Feng Zhao, as the President of the alliance, introduced the work done by the league since its 2018 annual conference and main work in 2019. Representatives from 12 alliance agencies and invited individual members spoke respectively to explore the work of the alliance and its future direction. In the end, the meeting reached several consensus, such as the 5th IASSRT symposium will be held in Italy in 2020. Elisa of the Centro Martino Martini, gave a brief introduction to the work of next year. Overall, this council meeting demonstrates that IASSRT is a dynamic and sustainable academic alliance, which will play an important role in One Belt And One Road's cultural cooperation in the future.

On 25th, September 2019, the 3rd meeting of the international silk union of history and culture committee (ISU)  was held as well.