China set to enhance interntional archaeology ties

Development blueprint prioritizes cooperation with BRI countries

China will step up international archaeological cooperation over the next five years to promote mutual learning among civilizations, according to a new development blueprint. 

The National Cultural Heritage Administration released the country's archaeology development blueprint for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30) on Saturday.

At a news conference in Beijing on Monday to explain the blueprint, Zhang Lei, director of the administration's archaeology department, said countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative would be given priority in Sino-foreign joint archaeological projects. Between five and 10 pilot projects will be launched to set examples for future cooperation over the next five years.

"That will expand the circle of friends of Chinese archaeology," Zhang said, adding that efforts would also be made to further improve the management system for international joint archaeological projects.

Since 2020, China has conducted joint archaeological projects with more than 30 countries and regions, undertaking a total of over 80 projects, some of which have reached the heartlands of ancient civilizations.

For example, at the Ben Arous Forest site in Tunisia, Chinese archaeologists have studied the transition from Carthaginian to Roman civilization. At the Temple of Montu in Luxor, Egypt, sustained excavations by Chinese researchers have made notable contributions to understanding the Osirian faith. Chinese archaeologists have also contributed to research at the Aggelokastro site in Greece.

In 2023, China and nine other Asian countries jointly established the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia. The alliance now has 26 member, observer and partner states. Zhang said more archaeological training programs would be organized under its framework.

"We support domestic archaeological institutions and universities in conducting joint archaeological activities and academic exchanges overseas," Zhang said. "They will explore transnational and regional research models in Central Asia, North Asia, Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia."

The blueprint also outlines plans for archaeological projects in Austronesian-speaking regions and areas around the Himalayas.

"Such cooperation will help facilitate comparative studies of different civilizations," said Zhang Zhiguo, deputy director of the National Centre for Archaeology. "We will work with overseas partners in field research, underwater archaeology, the application of high-tech methods to the preservation of heritage sites and other areas."

He said the centre's cooperative programs would involve countries including Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkiye, Peru and Samoa.

"We will also step up comparative studies of archaeology-related legal systems and policies in China and other countries," he said. "This will provide intellectual support for the long-term development of the field."

International archaeological cooperation, however, involves more than sending Chinese archaeologists overseas.

Under the five-year blueprint, China will also open its Archaeology China program to international researchers. Launched in 2017, the national-level program now comprises 21 thematic projects covering major issues such as human origins, the origins of agriculture and civilization, and the formation and evolution of early states in China.

The ongoing national project on the civilizations of the Xia (c.21st century-16th century BC) and Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) dynasties, a crucial period in the formation of early Chinese civilization and the development of a unified nation, will also invite international researchers to participate.

Joint research centers will be established at major archaeological sites to promote cultural exchanges and related research. These include the Liangzhu site in Zhejiang province, the Sanxingdui site in Sichuan province, the Erlitou site in Henan province and the Liulihe site in Beijing.

"Cooperation with overseas partners focuses on the cultural diversity of ancient civilizations and their interactions," Zhang Lei said. "Chinese archaeologists examine regional issues from a global perspective, reflecting the systematic and forward-looking approach of the discipline in China."