Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 9 October 2018, within the framework of the state visit of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to France, it is planned to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Art and Culture Development Foundation under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Louvre Museum.

From the Uzbek side, the memorandum will be signed by the Deputy Executive Director of the Foundation, Gayane Umerova, from the French side by the director of the Louvre Jean-Luc Martinez.

The memorandum sets the groundwork for cooperation between the Foundation and the Louvre Museum in several areas. According to the document, the parties to the memorandum agree to make all possible efforts to achieve the following goals:

• Supporting and promoting research cooperation in the field of art and culture history, museology, restoration and conservation;
• Cooperation in the disseminating the results of the excavation carried out by the French archaeological expedition in Bukhara, conducted by the Louvre Museum in collaboration with the Institute of Archaeological Research named after Yakhyo Gulyamov of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
• Exchange of specialists and sharing expertise (training, raising qualifications, best practices).

In addition, the Memorandum plans the organization of the “Civilization and Culture on the Great Silk Road” exhibition in the autumn of 2021 in the Museum of the Louvre devoted to the cultural heritage of Uzbekistan. The exhibition will depict the role and importance of Uzbekistan on the Silk Road in a broader historical, cultural, political and religious context, while also revealing the rich history and modern identity of Uzbekistan, creating a better understanding of the country and appreciating its history, culture and traditions. The exhibition will feature museum treasures that have never before been shown outside the country. As a whole these items will demonstrate trade and cultural ties, as well as the importance of the geographical location of modern Uzbekistan as an important midpoint in the crossroads of the ancient world.

The signing of this Memorandum will also create conditions for the expansion of international and interstate cultural relations of the Foundation, the development of cooperation with international cultural organizations and charitable foundations in the field of arts and culture.