Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 27 August, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev laid the cornerstone for the new National Museum of Uzbekistan, marking one of the historic events dedicated to the country’s Independence Day. The project symbolizes the revival of national identity and the preservation of cultural heritage.

During his visit to the construction site, the President was briefed on the project’s details, including the architectural design, layout, and construction phases. The museum is designed by the Japanese firm Tadao Ando Architect & Associates in collaboration with the German company Atelier Brückner. Its architecture combines circular, square, and triangular shapes, representing the harmony of Eastern and Western cultures. The complex will feature a three-story museum, a two-level underground floor, and auxiliary buildings. The general contractor is the Chinese company CSCEC International Construction.

The cornerstone ceremony was held on the square near the National Park of Uzbekistan, with participation from cultural figures, artists, scholars, writers, veterans, and the public. President Mirziyoyev congratulated attendees on the upcoming Independence Day and emphasized the importance of restoring the country’s cultural values.

“Today we begin construction of another historic site — the National Museum of Uzbekistan. This museum will become a center of science, education, and culture, bringing our three-thousand-year-old rich heritage to the people, the international community, and future generations,” stated the President.

Currently, Tashkent’s 30 museums hold over one million artifacts, though only a small portion — 2,400 out of 100,000 items at the State Museum of Arts — are on display. The President highlighted the importance of preserving unique works of art from Central Asia, China, Japan, India, and Europe for future generations and the global community.

The new 40,000-square-meter museum will provide modern facilities for exhibitions, a library, restoration laboratories, and storage, allowing scattered artifacts from across the capital to be displayed, with up to 10,000 items exhibited simultaneously. The 4,000-square-meter site will also include conference halls, classrooms, restaurants, and children’s areas.

Upon completion, the museum will form a unified architectural ensemble with the Abulkasim Madrasa, the Palace of Friendship of Peoples, and the National Park of Uzbekistan. It will become a thematic tourist center, attracting both local and international visitors. Future plans include collaboration with world-renowned museums such as the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum, and the British Museum for exhibitions and artifact exchanges.

At the ceremony’s conclusion, the President placed a capsule in the foundation, officially marking the start of the cultural complex’s construction. “I am confident that the new museum will vividly demonstrate our country’s role in world history and civilization. It will serve the people for many generations,” emphasized Shavkat Mirziyoyev.