Saudi Gazette report

BEIJING — The Saudi Heritage Commission and China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration have signed an amendment to extend the archaeological excavations cooperation project.

Heritage Commission was represented by its CEO Dr. Jasir Al-Herbish in signing the deal in a ceremony held in the presence of Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah and Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism Sun Yeli in Beijing on Thursday.

The excavations cooperation project began in 2016 at Al-Serrain archaeological site in the Makkah region. The renewal of this agreement further strengthens the cultural relations between the two countries in the fields of heritage preservation and archaeological research. This extension, lasting for five years, reflects the strong ties between the two nations and ensures ongoing, in-depth collaboration in areas such as archaeological excavation and heritage conservation.

Since the project’s inception, the archaeological work at Al-Serrain site has achieved significant results, providing valuable academic insight into the historical and cultural understanding of the region. The collaboration between Saudi Arabia and China in cultural heritage research, archeological excavations, and conservation has become a key part of the cultural exchange between the two nations, further advancing their cultural relations.

This extension marks a new phase in Saudi-Chinese cultural cooperation, with both nations committed to expanding and deepening their collaboration in archaeology and cultural heritage preservation.