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The prestigious Chinese news portal China Today published an article on the presentation in Beijing of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan’s cooperation program with China’s leading museums. The article highlights new initiatives aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation in museology, archaeology, and cultural heritage through joint exhibitions, scientific research, archaeological expeditions, and educational projects. It also outlines the key outcomes of the event titled “Uzbekistan–China: Heritage That Unites Civilizations,” held in Beijing.

A new cooperation program between the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan and China’s leading museums was presented at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Beijing.

Beijing. A cultural, educational, and media event entitled “Uzbekistan–China: Heritage That Unites Civilizations” was held at the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the People’s Republic of China. During the event, the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan unveiled its new cooperation program with China’s leading museums, research institutions, and cultural organizations.

Organized with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the event brought together more than 200 participants, including representatives of the diplomatic corps, government officials, directors of leading museums, research institutions, archaeologists, art historians, cultural figures, media representatives, and experts from both countries.

The central focus of the meeting was to further strengthen cooperation between Uzbekistan and China in the study, preservation, and promotion of cultural heritage. The participants presented plans for organizing joint museum exhibitions, conducting archaeological research and expeditions, implementing scholarly publishing projects, developing multimedia exhibitions, promoting exchanges of specialists, and expanding educational programs.

Special attention was also given to joint efforts to identify, study, preserve, and promote historical and cultural heritage reflecting the centuries-old ties between the peoples of Uzbekistan and China, forged through the Great Silk Road.

The participants were shown a documentary film introducing the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, established at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The film presented the Center’s unique concept, its principal exhibitions, scientific and educational activities, and its international mission to study, preserve, and promote the rich heritage of Islamic civilization.

The participants were also addressed by Farhod Arziev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the People’s Republic of China; Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan; Farhod Maqsudov, Director of the National Center of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan; as well as representatives of China’s leading research institutions and members of the Uzbekistan–China joint archaeological expedition.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the participants expressed their strong interest in further expanding scientific, museum, and cultural cooperation. They emphasized that the partnership between the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan and China’s leading institutions would serve as an important platform for implementing new international projects and strengthening humanitarian cooperation between the two countries.

In his remarks, Farhod Arziev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the People’s Republic of China, stated:

“Today, relations between Uzbekistan and China have reached an unprecedented level. The solid foundation of the comprehensive strategic partnership between our two countries is built upon the sincere and friendly relationship between the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping.”

The Ambassador emphasized that humanitarian cooperation and cultural diplomacy are among the most important pillars of bilateral relations, and that joint projects in science and culture are giving this partnership new practical substance.

The event also highlighted that the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, established at the initiative of the President, is becoming an international platform that brings together museums, research institutes, archives, libraries, and research centers from around the world to preserve, study, and promote the shared cultural heritage.

The agreements reached with Chinese partners open broad opportunities for implementing joint exhibitions, scientific research, publishing and educational projects, as well as introducing advanced museum technologies.

One of the key highlights of the event was the opening of two permanent exhibitions at the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the People’s Republic of China. One was the “New Uzbekistan” photo exhibition, dedicated to the country’s contemporary development. The other featured scholarly publications on the history and cultural heritage of Uzbekistan produced by the World Society for the Study, Preservation and Popularization of the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan (WOSCU), along with books showcasing the activities of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan.

The event concluded the official visit of the delegation of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan to the People’s Republic of China. During the visit, the delegation held meetings and negotiations with the leadership of several of the country’s leading museums and research institutions. These included visits to the Hong Kong Palace Museum, the National Museum of China, the China Archaeology Museum, the Palace Museum (Gugong), the Shaanxi History Museum, and the Harbin Museum.

Following the visit, a number of memorandums of cooperation were signed, and agreements were reached on the implementation of joint exhibition, scientific, museum, and educational projects.

One of the most significant outcomes of the visit was the identification of rare artifacts related to the Sogdian civilization in Chinese museums and private collections, as well as other valuable objects connected with the history of the territory of present-day Uzbekistan.

The two sides also agreed to launch a new joint cooperation program to mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and China. The program envisages the preparation of a scholarly album on Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage preserved in Chinese collections, the organization of reciprocal exhibitions, and the further development of cooperation between museums and joint scientific research.

The outcomes of the visit once again confirmed the readiness of Uzbekistan and China to elevate their cooperation in the study, preservation, and promotion of cultural heritage to a qualitatively new level, while jointly implementing long-term museum, scientific, educational, and cultural projects.