TASHKENT: The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA), discussed prospects for documentary and scientific cooperation, as well as opportunities for conducting joint studies and research on aspects of historical communication with Central Asian regions, and utilising documents, manuscripts, and historical sources to document these ties and highlight their extension across ages.
This came during a visit by a delegation led by Dr Hamed bin Mohammed al Dhawyani, Chairman of the National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA), and in the presence of Wafa bint Jabr al Busaidi, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Republic of Uzbekistan, to archival, scientific, intellectual, and cultural institutions in the cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Tashkent.
The visit included the Imam Al Bukhari Center, the Document Archive Branch in Samarkand, Bukhara State University, the Abu Rayhan Biruni Institute of Oriental Studies, the Islamic Civilisation Center, and the National Archives of Uzbekistan.
The Authority discussed with the concerned institutions ways to develop cooperation in the fields of document and manuscript preservation, maintenance, restoration, digitisation, microfilming, scientific research, publishing, and capacity building, alongside exchanging sources of mutual interest and activating scientific cooperation frameworks between Oman and Uzbekistan.
The Authority's delegation learned about Uzbek experiences in document and archive management, mechanisms for preserving, maintaining, and providing access to archival collections and manuscripts, and technologies used in digitisation and electronic archiving, alongside a number of scientific and research initiatives and projects concerned with preserving historical and cultural heritage.
The Authority and the Abu Rayhan Biruni Institute of Oriental Studies agreed to activate the signed memorandum of cooperation between them and work on several practical tracks in the fields of microfilming, manuscript restoration and maintenance, studying catalogues, and making copies of manuscripts of mutual interest available, alongside scientific research and publishing.
Dr Al Dhawyani emphasised the importance of expanding documentary and scientific cooperation fields between the two countries and building upon their shared historical and cultural ties, noting the importance of activating existing cooperation according to clear work programmes that contribute to exchanging knowledge and expertise, supporting scientific research, and preserving documentary and manuscript heritage.
Ambassador Wafa bin Jabr al Busaidi affirmed the importance of the distinguished relations between Oman and Uzbekistan, pointing out that the visit of the Authority's delegation reflects mutual interest in enhancing cooperation in scientific, cultural, and historical fields, and providing copies of available manuscripts to supply the Authority to support scientific research and publishing.
The visit comes within the framework of the National Records and Archives Authority's keenness to enhance its cooperation with counterpart institutions and exchange expertise and knowledge in documentary, archival, and scientific fields, contributing to preserving and providing access to documentary and manuscript heritage, and strengthening cultural and historical ties between Oman and Uzbekistan. - ONA
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