Georgia embraces new partnership with top museum in China

The Georgian National Museum (GNM) is starting a valuable international friendship by signing a cooperation deal with one of the world’s most popular museums in China’s capital Beijing.

GNM, the central network of museums across Georgia, will join forces with the Palace Museum of Beijing that safeguards treasures of the famed Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Later today officials from both museums will pen a deal which centralises around cooperation to preserve the oriental collections of the Georgian National Museum.

Visitors experience the oriental collection at the Georgian National Museum in Tbilisi. Photo from GNM.

Other areas of joint work will include organising mutual exhibitions, setting up training programs for employees and staging public lectures.

The agreement will be signed by Georgian National Museum General Director David Lordkipanidze and Palace Museum Director Shan Jixiang in the GNM Auditorium in Tbilisi.

GNM's oriental collections are preserved at the Shalva Amiranashvili Museum of Art in Tbilisi.

A display of weapons and a warrior outfit are part of the GNM's oriental collection. Photo from GNM.

The collections include exhibits of Egyptian, Islamic and Far East cultures. A vast range of items are on display, such as ceramic dishes, decorated weapons, paintings and costumes.

The Beijing Palace Museum hosts 15 million visitors every year, making it the world's most visited museum. Recognised by UNESCO as the largest collection of historic wooden structures, the sprawling complex includes 980 buildings.

The museum was established in 1925 based on the area of the 15th Century Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The palace, also known as The Forbidden City, was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.