Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 24 February 2020, Ambassador Said Rustamov met with representatives of one of the largest British libraries in the world - Colin Baker, head of the collections of Central Asia and the Middle East, Michael Erdman, curator of the Turkish and Turkic collections, and international cooperation manager Cecile Communal.

During the negotiations, certain aspects of the reforms carried out in Uzbekistan were discussed, in particular in the field of education and enlightenment, conservation and widespread popularization of the rich cultural, historical and scientific heritage of our country, including on the basis of international best practices.

Representatives of the British Library noted a significant historical contribution to the development of world science of the peoples living in Central Asia. Currently, the library contains over 200 manuscripts relating to the period of activity of such scientists and philosophers as Al-Bukhari, Al-Beruni, Al-Farabi, Ibn Sino, Alisher Navoi and others. In addition to materials from the era of the Eastern Renaissance, the library has books and publications of a new time, in particular of the 19th - early 20th centuries.

Interest was expressed in establishing and expanding partnerships between the British Library and specialized organizations of Uzbekistan in such areas as mutual enrichment of the library collections of the two countries through the exchange of copies of books and manuscripts, experience in the proper storage, cataloging and digitalization of historical documents, and the organization of exhibitions. An agreement was reached on the beginning of a joint study of practical areas of cooperation.