The Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology signed an archaeological cooperation agreement with Uzbekistan's Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, and Fergana State University on Oct 11 at the Shanxi Archaeological Museum in Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province.

This marks the first time the province has initiated archaeological cooperation with a foreign institution. Both parties will collaborate on archaeology projects, talent development, technological archaeology, cultural heritage preservation, and exhibition displays.

Fan Wenqian, director of the Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, introduced the institute's structure, archaeological research, and museum exhibition and utilization. He intended to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Fergana State University, aiming for more substantial archaeological collaboration between the two sides.

Fergana State University's deputy rector presented an overview of the university, its archaeological discipline development, and past archaeological work. He highlighted the historical ties between China and Central Asian countries through the Silk Road and emphasized that this archaeological cooperation agreement will advance the university's archaeology discipline and enhance the country's cultural development in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Following the signing ceremony, the two sides held a symposium on archaeological cooperation. They committed to further advancing archaeological cooperation.