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The Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, established on the basis of the vision and initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, is today gaining international recognition and attracting growing global attention for its mission, objectives, and outstanding potential.

At present, presentations of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan are being held in cities around the world, alongside meetings and dialogues at leading museums, libraries, and cultural and educational institutions.

With this purpose, a delegation led by Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, departed for the People’s Republic of China.

The Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan expresses its sincere gratitude to the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the People’s Republic of China and to Farhod Arziev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to China, for their comprehensive support in organizing this visit and the events held in Hong Kong.

With the assistance of the Embassy, meetings were arranged with the leadership of the Hong Kong Palace Museum, the Center’s presentation was prepared, and the participation of representatives from the cultural, academic, and public sectors in the events was successfully facilitated.

On July 20, the delegation visited the Hong Kong Palace Museum in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Opened around the same time as the Islamic Civilization Center, the museum features a wide range of exhibitions showcasing the history, culture, and achievements of world civilizations.

Uzbekistan and China have taken another significant step toward strengthening cooperation in cultural diplomacy. A Memorandum of Cooperation signed in Hong Kong between the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan and the Hong Kong Palace Museum covers joint exhibitions, scientific research, museum studies, cultural heritage preservation, and professional exchange programs. The agreement is expected not only to deepen cooperation between the cultural institutions of the two countries but also 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 on an official visit to the People’s Republic of China. As part of the visit, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan and the Hong Kong Palace Museum. The document was signed by Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Center, and Dr. Louis Ng, Director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum.

The memorandum provides for cooperation in museum studies, cultural heritage preservation, restoration, scientific research, the organization of joint exhibitions, professional training, and the exchange of expertise.

In recent years, preserving 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 presentation 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.

He noted that the Center’s primary mission is to study and preserve the legacy of great scholars on a scientific basis and to present it to a broad audience 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 center of scholarship and enlightenment not only for our country but for the entire world. The Center’s primary mission is to thoroughly study, preserve, and present the invaluable legacy of our great ancestors to the international community through modern approaches. Expanding cooperation with the world’s leading museums and academic institutions is one of our top priorities. The memorandum signed with the Hong Kong Palace Museum creates a solid legal foundation for a long-term partnership between our institutions and opens up broader opportunities for joint exhibitions, research projects, and cultural exchange programs,” said Firdavs Abdukhalikov.

Dr. Louis Ng, Director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum, noted that his visit to Uzbekistan several months ago had left a lasting impression, particularly the country's efforts to preserve and showcase its cultural heritage.

“Our visit to the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan was a valuable experience. We were deeply impressed by your country's achievements in preserving cultural heritage and presenting 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, outlining their future plans for organizing joint exhibitions, conducting scientific 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 heritage 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 its scientific and cultural ties with the world's leading museums, and promote Uzbekistan’s rich civilizational heritage on the global museum and academic stage. Such partnerships also support global efforts to strengthen mutual trust between nations through cultural diplomacy, preserve humanity’s shared heritage, and pass it on to future generations.

Following these events, a presentation of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan was held at the Hong Kong Palace Museum.

The presentation introduced the international audience to Uzbekistan’s rich historical and cultural heritage, the country's ongoing cultural reforms, and the scientific and educational activities of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan. Opening the event, Dr. George Ma, Head of Education and Community Outreach at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, emphasized that Uzbekistan and China are connected by centuries of history, the Great Silk Road, and a shared cultural heritage. He noted that events of this kind provide an important platform for strengthening cooperation among museums, academic institutions, and cultural organizations.

The event was attended by Nicholas Ho, Commissioner for Belt and Road of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Farhod Arziev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Uzbekistan to China; and Dr. Louis Ng, Director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum. The speakers noted that relations between Uzbekistan and China have continued to develop steadily in recent years on the basis of a comprehensive strategic partnership. They emphasized that cooperation between museums, joint scientific research, and cultural exchange programs have become key pillars of bilateral relations.

As part of the event, a short documentary highlighting the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, the country’s rich cultural heritage, and Uzbekistan–China relations was screened.

Following the screening, Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, delivered a presentation titled “Window into Uzbekistan’s Heritage: The Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan.”

In his remarks, he emphasized that the Center, established at the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, is not merely a museum but a modern scientific and educational platform that brings together scholarship, education, cultural diplomacy, and international cooperation.

“Uzbekistan and China are connected by a millennia-old history, the Great Silk Road, and a long tradition of dialogue between civilizations. The Center, established at the initiative of our Head of State, serves to study, preserve, and share this common heritage with the world. In the future, it will become an important international platform bringing together museums, archives, libraries, and academic institutions from both countries,” said Firdavs Abdukhalikov.

The presentation also provided a comprehensive overview of the concept behind the Center’s exhibitions, the role of the Great Silk Road in the development of civilizations, the scholarly traditions that flourished in the territory of present-day Uzbekistan, the legacy of its great scholars, and the exhibitions being developed using state-of-the-art museum technologies.

Farhod Maqsudov, Director of the National Center of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, spoke about the long-standing cooperation between Uzbek and Chinese archaeologists, as well as the results of their joint expeditions and archaeological research. He noted that these collaborative studies are enabling a deeper understanding of the cultural connections forged through the Great Silk Road and are elevating scientific cooperation between researchers from the two countries to a new level.

Rustam Jabborov, Scientific Secretary of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, delivered a presentation titled “The Theme of China in the Works of Alisher Navoi.” He emphasized that in Navoi’s writings, China is portrayed as a symbol of beauty, scholarship, craftsmanship, and a highly developed civilization, reflecting the ideas of spiritual affinity between peoples and universal human values.

The event continued with the exchange of cooperation certificates aimed at strengthening the partnership between the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan and the Hong Kong Palace Museum. The certificates were received by Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Center, and Dr. Louis Ng, Director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum.

The two sides also reaffirmed their readiness to further expand cooperation in museum studies, the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage, the organization of joint exhibitions, scientific research, the publication of illustrated books and albums, and the exchange of museum professionals.

At the conclusion of the event, the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan presented the Hong Kong Palace Museum with a collection of book albums from the series “The Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in World Collections.”

The official visit of the delegation from the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan to the People's Republic of China is continuing.