“China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Training Program on Movable Cultural Relics Preservation & Restoration and Sogdian Culture Research” Kicks Off in Zhengzhou: Protecting Silk Road Heritage, Deepening Cultural Exchange

On the morning of September 10, 2025, the “China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Training Program on Movable Cultural Relics Preservation & Restoration and Sogdian Culture Research” officially commenced in Zhengzhou, Henan Province. The opening ceremony was held at the conference center of the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology. The training program is sponsored by the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation and jointly hosted by the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology and the National Historical Museum of the Kyrgyz Republic. It is co-organized by the Key Scientific Research Base of Urban Archaeology and Heritage Conservation of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, and the Training Base for Cultural Heritage Talents of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage. The program aims to strengthen the protection of Asian cultural heritage, deepen international cooperation in Silk Road and Asian heritage preservation, advance Sogdian cultural research, and cultivate a professional talent pool in the field of movable cultural relics conservation. A total of 15 professional technicians from institutions engaged in cultural relic preservation, heritage protection, and archaeology—including the National Historical Museum of the Kyrgyz Republic, the State Museum of History of Uzbekistan, the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology, the Archaeology Institute of Luoyang, the Guangzhou Municipal Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology, the Chengdu Municipal Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, and the Fuzhou Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Work Team—will participate in a 15-day program combining theoretical study with field practice.

Liu Haiwang, Direetor and Professor of the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology, delivered the opening address. The ceremony was presided over by Liang Fawei, Deputy Director of the Institute.

Photo 1: Group photo of participating trainees.

[Photo 1] Direetor Liu Haiwang, Executive Director Li Qin, Deputy Director Liang Fawei, and the participating trainees pose for a group photo.

[Photo 2] Trainees visit the Institute’s History Museum.

Photo 2: Trainees visit the History Museum of the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology.

Photo 3: Trainees visit the History Museum of the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology.

Photo 4: Direetor Liu Haiwang delivers his opening speech.

Photo 5: Deputy Director Liang Fawei presides over the opening ceremony.

[Opening Address: Deepening Civilizational Exchange and Building Bridges of Friendship]

At the opening ceremony, Liu Haiwang first extended a warm welcome to the domestic and international trainees. He noted that cultural exchanges between China and Central Asia can be traced back through various historical routes, including the “Painted Pottery Road”, the Bronze Road, and the Silk Road, reflecting the long-standing friendship among China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. He highlighted that Silk Road relics are widely distributed across the region, presenting a profound historical panorama of ancient civilizations interacting and learning from one another. The Sogdians, in particular, were important cultural envoys along the ancient Silk Road, facilitating the integration of material and cultural exchanges between East and West and leaving behind invaluable cultural heritage across the three countries. Movable cultural relics carry the memory of history, and their protection and restoration is both a responsibility and a mission to preserve the continuity of historical memory and cultural heritage. As one of the cradles of Chinese civilization, Henan not only possesses rich cultural relics and heritage resources but has also accumulated extensive experience in protecting major sites and artifacts through years of conservation and archaeological work. This training program serves not only as a platform for professional and academic exchange but also as a practice in civilizational dialogue, aiming to safeguard human cultural heritage through the sharing of knowledge and experience. It is hoped that this joint training initiative among China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan will promote deeper collaboration in archaeology and cultural relic preservation across the Central Asian region. Finally, Liu Haiwang emphasized that trainees should work together to strengthen friendship and mutual trust, embody the principle of “overcoming divides through civilizational exchange, and fostering development through mutual learning,” and he wished the training program every success, with all participants gaining valuable knowledge and skills.

Photo 6: Scene from the opening ceremony of the training program.

[Exploring the Codes of Civilization, Opening a New Chapter in Cultural Heritage Preservation]

Following the opening ceremony, Liu Haiwang, Direetor and Professor of the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology, delivered a lecture titled “Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Preservation and Utilization in Henan” for the trainees. The lecture covered four key areas: Henan’s geographical location and historical development; Henan as a cradle of Chinese civilization; the construction of national archaeological site parks in Henan; and the future of archaeology and cultural heritage preservation in Henan.

Liu Haiwang began by introducing Henan’s geographical location and historical development, analyzing how its favorable geography has made it the cradle of Huaxia civilization and one of the most important birthplaces of Chinese civilization.

He then drew on archaeological evidence and historical records to outline Henan’s central role in the development of Chinese civilization. China boasts a human history spanning over one million years, a cultural history of ten thousand years, and a civilization history of five thousand years, with Henan playing a pivotal role in the birth and evolution of that civilization.

In the third part of his lecture, Liu Haiwang introduced Henan’s rich historical and cultural heritage and the ongoing construction of national archaeological site parks in the province. Henan’s concept of “major historical sites protection” transforms significant historical and cultural relics into public cultural spaces that integrate preservation, exhibition, research, and leisure, providing a “China solution” and a “Henan model” for the protection and utilization of major archaeological sites.

Finally, he looked ahead to the future of archaeology and cultural heritage preservation in Henan. As a key birthplace of Chinese civilization, Henan bears great responsibility in protecting its cultural relics and advancing archaeological work. The province continues to strengthen the protection and adaptive utilization of major sites, broaden the dissemination of archaeological findings, innovate public archaeology and community engagement methods, expand international collaboration, and enhance technological capabilities to improve cultural heritage preservation. Looking forward, Henan’s archaeological efforts will remain focused on major research areas such as the origins of civilization, the emergence of the state, and Yellow River culture. In particular, the ongoing “Xia-Shang Civilization Research Project” aims to deepen the study of Central Plains civilization, providing new empirical evidence and insights into the development of Chinese civilization from a diverse set of cultural roots toward a unified whole.

Photo 7: Liu Haiwang delivers the first theoretical lecture to the trainees.

Photo 8: Scene from the theoretical learning session.

Photo 9: Trainees during the course.

Photo 10: Trainees during the course.

Photo 11: Liu Haiwang presents commemorative gifts to the trainees.

Photo 12: Group photo of Liu Haiwang with trainees from Uzbekistan.

Photo 13: Group photo of Liu Haiwang with trainees from Kyrgyzstan.

Photo 14: Group photo of Liu Haiwang with all trainees after the session.