OREANDA-NEWS. February 04, 2011. A U.S. delegation led by Paul Michael Taylor, Director of the Asian Cultural History Programme at the Smithsonian Institution, who had arrived in Turkmen capital a day before, is on a visit in Turkmenistan.

Promotion and enhancement of close relations in the sphere of cultural and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries is the main goal of the visit of the U.S. delegation representing the world’s largest research and museum centre – the Smithsonian Institution with 19 museums and galleries of art, research centres, scientific libraries and the National Zoological Park.

The guests were received at the Ministry of Culture and Broadcasting, where a substantial exchange of views on key aspects of the cultural policies of the two countries and the prospects for cooperation in this sphere took place.

Particular attention was paid to the issues such as promotion of partnership in development in the museum sector, collaboration under joint research programmes and projects aimed at studying and promoting worldwide the unique historical, cultural and natural heritage the Turkmen people. The guests made the presentation on the main goals and objectives of the Asian Cultural History Programme of the Smithsonian Institution, which was aimed at providing multifaceted assistance in this sphere. The meeting participants expressed the intense interest and willingness to expand cooperation on exchange of experiences in these spheres and facilitate close professional, scientific and educational contacts between specialists.

The agenda of the ten-day visit the U.S. delegation includes the meetings with scientists of the Institute for Manuscripts, the Institute of History and Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences, the Museum of Fine Arts, where the discussion of the prospects for partnership in preservation restoration and study of ancient historical and cultural monuments of universal value. Also, the members of the delegation will have the meetings at the Turkmen Carpet Museum, the National Museum and the National Cultural Centre, the Turkmen State Institute of Culture and other cultural and art institutions. The visits to the historical and cultural reserves – Ancient Merv and Kunya Urgench, which are a part of the world heritage, are scheduled.