On September 2 of this year, the opening ceremony of the China-Uzbekistan joint International Laboratory for the study of human and environment “One Belt and One Road”, which is a joint laboratory of archaeology and scientific and technical protection of cultural heritage, was held jointly with China and Central Asia at our university. While speaking at the event, Rector of “Silk Road” International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage Aziz Abdukhakimov spoke about the results of a wide range of practical works and projects carried out today between Uzbekistan and China in the field of education and tourism. At the event, Zhao Yide, Secretary of Shaanxi Province of the Communist Party of China, Rustam Kabilov, Deputy Governor of Samarkand, and Chang Jiang, Vice President of Northwest University, spoke about the significant aspects of the establishment of this China-Uzbekistan joint International Laboratory of Archaeology and Scientific and Technical Protection of Cultural Heritage.

This huge scientific project is organized on the initiative of the Northwest University of the People’s Republic of China in the building of Samarkand Campus of the International Academy of Tourism under the initiative of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The laboratory consists of 2 parts specializing in biochemical research and animal bones study, in this laboratory it will be possible to study any materials of archaeological excavations found on the territory of Uzbekistan. For the construction of the joint laboratory an area of 395 square meters on the 8th floor of the building of the International Academy of Tourism was allocated at a total cost of 1 billion 87 million soums. A total of 90 units of laboratory equipment and special machinery of 36 types were purchased for this amount.