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Uzbekistan and China have taken another important step toward deepening cooperation in cultural diplomacy. A Memorandum of Understanding signed in Hong Kong between the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan and the Hong Kong Palace Museum provides for cooperation in organizing joint exhibitions, conducting scholarly research, advancing museology, preserving cultural heritage, and facilitating professional exchanges. In addition to strengthening ties between the cultural institutions of the two countries, the agreement is expected to promote the rich civilizational heritage of Central Asia more broadly on the international museum stage.

A delegation led by Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, is currently on an official visit to the People’s Republic of China. As part of the visit, the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan and the Hong Kong Palace Museum signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The document was signed by Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Center, and Dr. Louis Ng, Director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum.

The memorandum outlines cooperation in such areas as museology, cultural heritage preservation, restoration, scholarly research, the organization of joint exhibitions, professional training, and the exchange of expertise.

In recent years, safeguarding cultural heritage and promoting it through modern museum technologies have become key priorities of global cultural policy. UNESCO and the international museum community have placed particular emphasis on expanding international cooperation in the digitization, restoration, and global promotion of historical heritage. In this context, the agreement is regarded as another practical step toward strengthening cultural ties between Central Asia and East Asia.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, emphasized that the Center is being established at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to introduce the country's centuries-old scientific and spiritual heritage to the international community.

According to him, the Center’s primary mission is to study and preserve the legacy of great scholars on a solid academic foundation and to present it to the wider public through modern museum practices and digital technologies.

“The Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, established at the initiative of our esteemed President, is becoming an important academic and educational institution not only for our country but also for the global scholarly and cultural community. Its primary mission is to comprehensively study, preserve, and promote the invaluable legacy of our great ancestors through modern approaches. Expanding cooperation with the world's leading museums and research institutions is one of our key priorities. The memorandum signed with the Hong Kong Palace Museum provides a strong legal foundation for a long-term partnership between our two institutions and creates broader opportunities for organizing joint exhibitions, implementing scholarly projects, and developing cultural exchange programs,” said Firdavs Abdukhalikov.

Dr. Louis Ng, Director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum, noted that during his visit to Uzbekistan several months ago, he was deeply impressed by the country's achievements in preserving and presenting its cultural heritage.

“Our visit to the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan was an invaluable experience. We were greatly impressed by the remarkable efforts being made in your country to preserve cultural heritage and present it through modern approaches. I am confident that today’s agreement will elevate our cooperation to a new level,” said Dr. Louis Ng.

Following the signing ceremony, the heads of the two institutions held a media briefing, where they outlined their future plans for organizing joint exhibitions, conducting scholarly research, exchanging expertise in restoration, and training museum professionals.

The Uzbek delegation then toured the exhibitions of the Hong Kong Palace Museum. The museum’s collection features the history of Chinese and world civilizations, ancient works of art, the legacy of the imperial court, and rare cultural treasures. During the visit, the delegation explored the museum's practical experience in collection management, restoration, and the application of digital museum technologies.

The memorandum is expected to further expand the international partnership network of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, strengthen scholarly and cultural cooperation with the world’s leading museums, and promote Uzbekistan’s rich civilizational heritage more broadly within the international museum and academic communities. Such partnerships also contribute to global efforts aimed at strengthening mutual trust between nations through cultural diplomacy, preserving the shared heritage of humanity, and passing it on to future generations.