The memorandum comes as a result of the visit to Uzbekistan by a Louvre delegation, headed by the museum’s director Henri Loyrette, in May last year to discuss issues in setting up cooperation between Fund Forum and the Louvre in education, science, culture and art.

The memorandum will see the two organizations cooperate in various areas, including exchange of specialists, organization of art shows, conferences and workshops in both countries, interaction in archeology, restoration projects, oriental antiques and Islamic art.

The Louvre (Musée du Louvre) is the most frequently visited museum in the world and one of the oldest in France. A central landmark in Paris, the museum is home to a collection that covers Western art from the medieval period to 1848, formative works from the civilizations of the ancient world, and works of Islamic art. The collection is grouped into eight curatorial departments. The Department of Near Eastern Antiquities, for one, is a treasure trove of silver, gold, bronze and clay items created by Near Eastern peoples throughout centuries. Founded in 1793, the Louvre celebrates humanity’s long journey with the remarkable scope of a collection that spans thousands of years, reaches from America to the borders of India and China, and is highlighted by iconic works such as the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and the Victory of Samothrace.

Fund Forum, in turn, is Uzbekistan’s largest public organization which gave itself the goal of reviving national traditions and spiritual legacy and supporting Uzbek culture, art, education and sports.

Previously, Fund Forum also sealed Memorandums of Understanding with major international organizations such as the UNESCO, the British Council, the Swiss Cooperation Office, China’s Soong Ching Ling Foundation, Samuel Eto’o Foundation, Japan’s Nagoya University, the National Museum of Korea and Moscow State Linguistics University among others.