AlUla Royal Commission Signs Strategic Partnership with China's Henan Province

AlUla Governorate and Henan Province are working towards protecting cultural heritage - SPA
AlUla Governorate and Henan Province are working towards protecting cultural heritage - SPA
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AlUla Royal Commission Signs Strategic Partnership with China's Henan Province

AlUla Governorate and Henan Province are working towards protecting cultural heritage - SPA
AlUla Governorate and Henan Province are working towards protecting cultural heritage - SPA

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) signed a strategic partnership with the Cultural Heritage Administration of Henan Province, aimed at preserving heritage.
The signing comes in line with the RCU's goals to enhance the global partnership network within the framework of the Saudi-Chinese partnership.
The partnership includes enhancing knowledge and shared resources with a focus on archaeology, preserving cultural heritage and museums, research collaboration, talent development, tourism, and other cultural exchanges.
The partnership includes establishing a technology-driven archaeological laboratory, conducting excavation activities, engaging in research, and fostering connections between heritage sites in AlUla and Henan.
Additionally, it involves implementing collaborative exchange programs, participating in exhibitions and events, and utilizing museum technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality.
AlUla has joined as a founding member of the International Tourism Alliance of Silk Road Cities, within the framework of supporting cultural cooperation and connectivity between Saudi Arabia and China.
The alliance aims to lay the foundations for long-term fruitful cooperation and knowledge exchange among cities of significant tourism, historical, and cultural importance within and beyond China.
With its membership among the 58 founding cities from 26 countries across different continents, AlUla will participate in international forums, delegations, and events to enhance tourism and sustainable development in the northwestern region of the Arabian Peninsula and among the alliance's member cities, SPA reported.
AlUla Governorate and Henan Province are working towards protecting cultural heritage, given their rich history as crossroads of civilizations. AlUla has been home to successive civilizations for over 200,000 years, while Henan is the third-largest province in China with a population of 100 million and houses five out of six archaeological projects on the origins of Chinese civilization.
Both AlUla and Henan are home to UNESCO World Heritage sites with a shared history spanning over 1,400 years along the ancient incense and Silk Roads, representing a common heritage as capitals of ancient empires.
The agreement coincides with the exhibition "AlUla, Wonder of Arabia," currently held at the Palace Museum in Beijing, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, until April 11. This exhibition has attracted over 250,000 visitors. It features several sections, exhibits, archaeological pieces, and heritage items from historical sites in AlUla.
The partnership comes along with programs and initiatives aligned with AlUla Vision in harmony with Saudi Vision 2030.



World of Silence: Riyadh Sculpture Exhibition Celebrates Language of Silence

The exhibition is part of the Art Week Riyadh. SPA
The exhibition is part of the Art Week Riyadh. SPA
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World of Silence: Riyadh Sculpture Exhibition Celebrates Language of Silence

The exhibition is part of the Art Week Riyadh. SPA
The exhibition is part of the Art Week Riyadh. SPA

As part of the inaugural Art Week Riyadh, "A World of Silence" exhibition creates an open artistic dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Egypt through sculptures showcasing unique visions and diverse artistic expressions from artists of both nations, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Focusing on silence as a powerful artistic language, this exhibition offers a contemplative experience. The sculptures on display encourage a sensory engagement with shapes, masses, and spaces, embodying the fusion of concept and material and showcasing sculpture's ability to surpass the limitations of language, time, and culture, SPA said.
The sculpture exhibition acts as a visual bridge connecting people and places, exploring the emotional and symbolic depths of the art. It invites quiet contemplation and detailed immersion, encouraging interpretations that move beyond surface form to reveal profound meaning, it said.
The exhibition is part of the Art Week Riyadh series of events, which encompasses more than 100 activities in various locations across the capital. It contributes to enhancing the status of visual arts in the cultural landscape, in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 towards supporting creative industries and empowering artists locally and internationally, SPA added.