Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – On 8-9 June, the first official visit of Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Italy took place at the invitation of the President of this country, Sergio Matarella. The summit, according to experts, is not just a meeting of two heads of state, but a return to old partners.

And this is no accident. Even during the Great Silk Road, cultural exchanges took place between Rome and Maverannahr and active trade was carried out. Precious stones, metals, spices, silk, fruits were brought from here.

During the excavations of the ancient cities of Uzbekistan, goods of Roman production were found. On the territory of Old Termez, hundreds of silver coins from the times of Trajan and Marcus Aurelius, the remains of elegant marble sculptures and intaglio gems with images of Roman gods were found.

In addition to trade relations, diplomatic relations developed between the Mediterranean and Central Asian regions. Rome was repeatedly visited by the embassies of the Kushans, Kherezmians and Turks. At the same time, relations flourished most during the reign of Amir Temur.

At the same time, the Venetian merchants, who visited the East with an expedition, praised in their biographies the beauty and brilliance of the cities of Uzbekistan - Bukhara and Samarkand.

Looking back at the two-thousand-year history of relations between the countries, it is not surprising that there is mutual interest in the cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Uzbekistan and Italy today. Continuing the traditions of our ancestors, this aspect of cooperation remains one of the most important areas of interaction between countries.

Thus, from the first years of independence, cooperation agreements were signed between Uzbekistan and Italy, aimed at developing exchanges in the field of culture, education and science.

However, relations received a new dynamic in 2019, when an updated program was signed, which became even more expanded and complete.

It stipulates cooperation in the fields of education, including mutual access to grants, regular exchanges in the field of tourism, culture and art, sports, archeology, restoration, conservation and protection of cultural heritage, establishing links between archives and libraries.

At the same time, the study of the Italian language has become a separate niche of cultural and humanitarian cooperation. University courses of its teaching are actively operating in the country. 2 branches of Italian institutions conduct their activities - the Polytechnic University of Turin and the branch of the University of Pisa in Tashkent in cooperation with the University of Geological Sciences. In total, more than 700 students study there.

Partnerships are being developed with higher educational institutions in Italy through the Erasmus + program. In 2021, an agreement was signed on cooperation between the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan and the National Research Council of Italy.

Tourism potential is being consistently realized. In 2022, about 9 thousand Italian tourists visited Uzbekistan. Today, Italy is one of the five countries in Europe, whose tourists actively visit our country.

However, the cultural and humanitarian cooperation of the countries, of course, is not limited to scientific and tourist interaction. Relations between Rome and Tashkent are jointly developing in the areas of innovation and youth entrepreneurship. The possibility of launching a joint program to support start-ups among young people in Uzbekistan is being considered.

The achieved level of interaction in this direction continues to rise thanks to contacts between governments at the highest level. As part of the visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a new cultural exchange program for the period up to 2026 was signed.

Of particular note is the adoption of memorandums of cooperation between the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Italian Trade Agency for Restoration, the Fund for the Development of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Culture of the Italian Republic.

These documents are significant for Uzbekistan, given the number of ancient architectural monuments. In Italy, restoration is one of the most prominent professions, and its followers are recognized as the best craftsmen in their field.

It is no coincidence that 51% of the total cultural industry of the country is the restoration of art objects, while 90% of the funds are allocated from the state budget. There are currently more than 500 companies in Italy specialized in archeology, excavation and restoration of cultural heritage.

In general, the results of the visit indicate that Tashkent and Rome are not only diplomatic partners, but also good friends, bound by centuries-old ties of trade, cultural and humanitarian relations. Our countries demonstrate a steady desire to deepen ties, and today we have everything necessary for joint productive work in these areas.

Kamila Sabirova,

Leading Researcher

Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies

  under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan