A delegation of education officials, principals, and teachers from Uzbekistan visited Anji county in Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, from Dec 15 to 19, promoting exchange and strengthening cooperation in preschool education.

In 2016, the Ministry of Education issued a notice to promote educational cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, emphasizing the sharing of advanced educational experiences and the improvement of regional education quality.

Anji county has become a pioneer in preschool education reform with its Anji Play program. This groundbreaking early childhood education model encourages children to explore and grow through open, low-structured play. It has gained international attention for its innovative approach.

Delegates from Uzbekistan play with children at a kindergarten in Anji. [Photo/Tide News]

Uzbekistan has prioritized preschool education and is adopting international practices. In August, Tashkent's No 12 Kindergarten became the first pilot school for the Anji Play program in Uzbekistan. Uzbek experts have noted significant positive changes in children's play activities.

Nurmetov Tursunbek, deputy director of the Khorezm Regional Education Bureau, expressed a desire to integrate Anji's advanced educational experiences into Uzbekistan's education reforms.

During the visit, several educational cooperation agreements between the two regions were signed.

Anji has also formed a "Discovering Children" learning community based on the Anji Play program with various regions in China, promoting localized educational innovation.

This activity promotes cooperation between Anji and Uzbekistan in the creation of a "Discovering Children" learning community, said Zhou Bin, director of Anji's education bureau.