Afghan scholars empowered by China's heritage preservation

Sitting in a conservation forum in Northwest China's Gansu province, Afghan archaeologist Azizuddin Wafa was intensely focused, taking notes with one hand and capturing photos of each slide with the other as a Chinese scholar delivered a presentation on desalination techniques.

The ongoing forum took place in late August in Dunhuang — home to the Mogao Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site — bringing together hundreds of experts and scholars from 16 countries to exchange knowledge on cave temple conservation.

Wafa's participation is part of a broader training program in China for Afghan archaeology and cultural preservation professionals.

"We've gained a lot of experience. China's use of science and technology in preserving cultural relics has been particularly helpful," he says, adding that over the years, China has made continuous efforts to support Afghan talent development.

Since 2022, around 70 Afghan government officials and scholars have attended three training sessions organized by China's Ministry of Commerce and hosted by the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration.

The latest training session Wafa attended began in Beijing on Aug 14 and includes 23 participants. For 16 days, they studied Chinese law and regulations on cultural preservation, archaeological science and digital techniques. The program also includes visits to cultural landmarks such as the Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall, the Mogao Caves and institutions like the National Museum of China.

"China and Afghanistan both lie along the ancient Silk Road and share deep historical ties with a long tradition of cultural exchanges," says Miao Bin, deputy director of the international exchange department at the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration.

In 2018, a team from the Dunhuang Academy became one of the first Chinese academic groups to conduct research in Afghanistan. An exhibition featuring treasures from the National Museum of Afghanistan has also toured Chinese cities, including Dunhuang and Beijing, garnering widespread acclaim.

Mayel Aqa Karimy, director of the ancient coin gallery at the National Museum of Afghanistan, has been involved in cultural relic preservation for nearly two decades. This is his second time attending a training program in China.

"Afghanistan and China share many similarities in culture and art. The conservation techniques I've learned here can be applied at sites in Afghanistan," Karimy says.

During his previous training, Karimy visited Beijing, Xi'an in Shaanxi province and Dunhuang, and was impressed by the sustainable preservation efforts in Chinese cities. This time, he is focusing on China's digital technology, hoping to use these advanced techniques in his country to better protect its cultural heritage.

Karimy also highlights China's ongoing assistance in preserving Afghanistan's historical sites and its commitment to training Afghan professionals.

Su Bomin, dean of the Dunhuang Academy and a keynote speaker at the forum, also participated in last year's training program. Su emphasizes that China is willing to share its experience in cave temple preservation with the world.

According to Miao, China's overseas training programs are fostering deeper cooperation with Afghanistan in cultural preservation.

After the Dunhuang forum, the Afghan participants returned to Beijing for further academic discussions. Chinese archaeologists are also scheduled to travel to Afghanistan to conduct joint research at the ancient Buddhist heritage site Mes Aynak, 40 kilometers southeast of Kabul.

This year, China has expanded similar training programs to other countries, including Cambodia and Iran, to enhance professional resource exchanges.