Uzbekistan Secures $140K Grant for Excavations at Chinortepa Archaeological Site

Uzbekistan has received a $140,000 grant to advance archaeological excavations at the Chinortepa site in the Surkhandarya region, following its admission to the Council of the Asian Alliance for Cultural Heritage.

The announcement was made at the Alliance’s II General Assembly and III Council Meeting in Chongqing, China, attended by representatives from 33 countries and international organizations, The Caspian Post reported via Uzbek media.

Bahodir Abdikarimov, Director of Uzbekistan’s Cultural Heritage Agency, led the national delegation and stressed the need to protect cultural heritage amid rapid urbanisation and environmental pressures. Preserving historical sites, he said, is a responsibility owed to future generations.

Uzbekistan’s participation in the Alliance will deepen international cooperation, allowing the country to showcase its rich heritage and contribute to shared cultural values across Asia. The grant will support detailed research at Chinortepa, help uncover new findings, and expand archaeological partnerships.

Founded in 2021 in Xi’an, the Asian Alliance for Cultural Heritage now includes 24 member countries and serves as a global platform for scientific dialogue, preservation projects, and heritage diplomacy across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and Oceania.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that the Ministry of Justice has announced that a new decree signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev sets out plans to expand the Tashkent Metro network to 103 km by 2030.