18 | Monday, August 2, 2021 HONG KONG EDITION | CHINA DAILY LIFE World Heritage Committee sets out its vision

Fuzhou Declaration heralds greater dialogue and exchanges between countries amid new consensus to face challenges

and prosperity depicted in a line by a Song Dynasty poet that says with the rising tide, merchant ships from all countries come ashore to trade. Through the mirror of history and from a global perspective, we are even more aware of the outstanding uni- versal value of Quanzhou. Today, Chi- na’s national rejuvenation has become a historical inevitability with unprece- dentedly bright prospects. China and Editor's Note: The Extended 44th the Chinese people will continue to session of the World Heritage Com- work with all peace-loving countries mittee was held in Fuzhou, Fujian and people to develop a new type of province, from July 16 to 31. Tian international relations, promote the Xuejun, chairman of the extended session and the Chinese National building of a community with a Commission for UNESCO, shares shared future for mankind, boost the outlook of World Heritage in high-quality development of the Belt China at the meeting’s conclusion. and Road Initiative through joint efforts, and provide the world with By china daily new opportunities through China’s new achievements in development. What are the primary outcomes of the Extended 44th session of the This session of the World Heritage World Heritage Committee? What Committee has concluded. What positive significance has the ses- new measures will China take in sion produced in the promotion of the “post-session” phase? global heritage protection? The great success of the Extended On July 31, 2021, the Extended 44th session of the World Heritage 44th session of the World Heritage Committee opened a new chapter for Committee concluded in Fuzhou aft- China’s endeavors to protect different er completing the consideration of types of heritage, including World all items on the agenda. Heritage. During the “14th Five-Year China attaches great importance to Plan” period, we will thoroughly the session of the World Heritage Com- study and implement Xi Jinping mittee. President Xi Jinping sent a Thought on Socialism with Chinese congratulatory letter to the session, Characteristics for a New Era, prac- and Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan read tice the new development philoso- out the congratulatory letter and phy, earnestly implement the delivered a speech at the opening convention in the spirit of being ceremony. President Xi profoundly responsible for history and the peo- elaborated the importance of world ple, and continuously improve our cultural and natural heritage to heritage protection capabilities and human civilization and sustainable results. development, and emphasized that President Xi, in his congratulatory China stands ready for more letter, emphasized that world cultural exchanges and cooperation with all and natural heritage is an important other countries and UNESCO to pro- vehicle in promoting exchanges and mote dialogue between civilizations, mutual learning among civilizations. facilitate exchanges and mutual We will take World Heritage as a win- learning, and support the protection dow to showcase the extensive and of the world’s heritage. Let us jointly profound Chinese culture, present preserve the cultural and natural beautiful China with lucid water and treasures of all humanity and work lush mountains, tell Chinese stories for a community with a shared well, and help the world understand future for mankind. The congratula- China. We will take World Heritage as tory letter from President Xi provid- a bridge to promote cross-cultural ed directional guidance for this dialogues, exchanges, and mutual session and was highly commended learning between civilizations, and by States Parties and UNESCO. transcend civilization estrangement, Against the background of the clashes, and superiority. We will take COVID-19 pandemic, which has Some of the 22 component sites included in “Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China”: World Heritage as a vehicle to carry brought about complicated and grave (Clockwise from top) Tianhou Temple, where people pray to Mazu, a sea goddess. jiang kehong / xinhua forward the common values of challenges to World Heritage conser- Anping Bridge, considered the longest ancient bridge in China. song qi / for china daily peace, development, fairness, jus- vation, the session’s success is of par- Luoyang Bridge, which connects Quanzhou to Fujian’s heartland. ye xiaofeng / for china daily tice, democracy and freedom for all ticular significance. This session has A part of Shihu Dock, a witness to the city’s once prosperous maritime trade. yang enuo/ for china daily humankind, promote people-to- achieved fruitful results, which are people exchanges between China mainly reflected in the following the World Heritage Committee pro- protection in Africa. In addition, the remarkable achievements made by ing the opening ceremony. The art and other countries, foster people- three aspects. posed a Global Strategy for a more committee decided by a secret ballot China in the construction of ecologi- performance named Fuzhou Wel- to-people connectivity between peo- The first achievement is its adher- representative, balanced, and credi- to remove “Liverpool — Maritime cal civilization and the protection, comes Guests From Around the ples of all nations, and accelerate the ence to the spirit of the convention to ble World Heritage List. In this ses- Mercantile City of Britain” from the inheritance, and utilization of cultur- World was splendidly staged, the building of a community with a forge solidarity and consensus. The sion, a total of 34 nominations, World Heritage List. It was the first al relics, and vividly displayed China’s exhibition themed on World Heri- shared future for mankind. committee members unanimously including “Quanzhou: Emporium of World Heritage site deleted in the major strategic success in fighting tage in China was attractively pre- The Chinese National Commission supported the adoption of the Fu­- the World in Song-Yuan China”, were past 10 years, which reflects the firm against the COVID-19 pandemic. sented, and various colorful heritage for UNESCO will give full play to its zhou Declaration, which reiterates inscribed on the list. When reviewing determination of the committee to As a major and responsible coun- exhibitions and experience activities roles, maintain its cooperation with the principle of the Convention Con- the nominations, the members of the safeguard heritage in line with the try, rich in World Heritage, China were organized. Fuzhou city and relevant authorities and local govern- cerning the Protection of the World’s committee maintained the principles requirements of the convention. has been actively contributing its Fujian province deeply impressed ments to carry out work relative to Cultural and Natural Heritage and of the convention and expressed During the session, a series of side wisdom, solutions, and strength to representatives of different coun- the nomination, protection, inherit- the importance of international coop- their support and encouragement events have been organized by dif- World Heritage conservation. As the tries participating offline and online. ance and utilization of World Heri- eration for World Heritage protec- for the nominations proposed by the ferent stakeholders online and off- host country of the session, China It is the first time in UNESCO’s histo- tage, continue to showcase Chinese tion. This echoed the session’s great developing countries. This session line. These were themed on World proposed the Fuzhou Declaration, ry to conduct an online review of concepts and practices relating to concern over the far-reaching impact fully recognized the progress of the Heritage education, interpretation which was adopted through consen- World Heritage items, and Fuzhou World Heritage protection, partici- of climate change on the sustainable ad hoc working group of the World and presentation, World Heritage sus by the World Heritage Commit- has provided strong technical sup- pate in the global World Heritage gov- development of World Heritage, Heritage Committee over the past site managers, World Heritage lead- tee. The Committee members widely port. An array of operational norms ernance, and deepen exchanges and emphasizing that it is the shared two years, which provides a new and ership, conservation and sustaina- believed that the Fuzhou Declara- and procedures for online meetings cooperation with UNESCO World responsibility of all humankind to important opportunity for the ble development of historic urban tion, a significant milestone, is very established and applied by this ses- Heritage Center and related advisory protect World Heritage. It called for implementation of its Global Strate- landscapes, and world natural heri- balanced and highly inclusive and sion will serve as essential references bodies. We will earnestly implement scaling up support to developing gy. During this session, all the com- tage and biodiversity and space tech- fully reflects the concerns of the for carrying out work relative to the crucial measures proposed by countries, especially to African coun- mittee members made concerted nologies toward sustainable States Parties. During the session, World Heritage conservation online Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan at the tries and Small Island Developing efforts and contributed their wis- development of World Heritage. In China, as the host country, firmly and offline in the post-pandemic era. opening ceremony of the session, States (SIDS), to maintain an open, dom and strength to overcoming the particular, the side event under the adhered to the purpose and princi- including providing support for inclusive, adaptive, sustainable, resil- impact of the COVID-19 pandemic title of the Africa-China Capacity ples of the convention, actively pro- During this session, “Quanzhou: developing countries, especially Afri- ient, clean and beautiful world for and establishing a more representa- Building for World Heritage Conser- moted the implementation of the Emporium of the World in Song- can countries and SIDS, to cultivate future generations. The Fuzhou Dec- tive, balanced, and credible World vation and Management — Towards Global Strategy for World Heritage Yuan China” was successfully professionals for World Heritage pro- laration embodies the consensus and Heritage List. Future Cooperation between Africa conservation, and played a positive inscribed on the World Heritage tection, implement the capacity actions of the members of the World The third achievement is the and China demonstrated China’s leading role in implementing UNES- List, and China’s extensive family building projects on World Heritage Heritage Committee and is emblem- strengthening of monitoring and concrete actions to improve the CO’s global strategy of Africa Priori- of World Heritage added a new nomination, conservation and man- atic of the solidarity of this session. supervision, with the aim of enhanc- number and tackle the underrepre- ty. It also responded to climate member. What’s your comment agement for African countries, and During the session, representatives of ing heritage protection. The com- sentation of African countries’ change and properly handling the on this? cooperate with UNESCO to organize the members of the World Heritage mittee reviewed a total of 258 state of World Heritage sites. Arguably, these relationship between development During this session, the World Her- the capacity building forum on World Committee, States Parties observers, conservation reports of World Heri- side events have contributed posi- and protection, strengthening the itage Committee decided by consen- Heritage nomination and conserva- and representatives from the adviso- tage properties, gave full considera- tive outcomes to the session from World Heritage capacity building, sus to inscribe “Quanzhou: tion for African countries. ry bodies overcame the technical tion to the professional different professional fields. promoting the nomination process Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan Youths are the future for the challenges and time-zone differences recommendations of advisory bod- reform, and reinforcing World Heri- China” on the World Heritage List, undertaking of World Heritage con- and actively participated in the dis- ies such as ICOMOS and IUCN, and The Extended 44th session of tage education. Through its efforts, adding another shining pearl to Chi- servation. China will spare no effort cussion of important items. Uphold- made decisions based on consensus. the World Heritage Committee China has facilitated the achieve- na’s World Heritage sites. So far, the to promote World Heritage educa- ing the spirit of the convention and The World Heritage Committee was held online. How did China, ment of a series of new and impor- total number of World Heritage sites tion and take forceful action to culti- with a scientific, professional and highly praised three World Heritage as the host country of the ses- tant outcomes. With a fair, just, in China has reached 56. Quanzhou, vate talent for World Heritage objective attitude, they freely properties, namely the Great Wall of sion, make efforts and contribu- cooperative and inclusive attitude, as a window of international econom- conservation and international expressed their opinions while adher- China, Tai National Park and Comoe tions to ensure the success of the China preserved the solidarity and ic and cultural exchange during the cooperation. Meanwhile, China will ing to unity and cooperation to reach National Park, both in Cote d’Ivoire, session? cooperation between the committee Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) work with UNESCO to establish an consensus. Positive progress has been as model cases of conservation and This year marks the 100th anni- members, and encouraged the com- dynasties, was a critical node on the online platform for World Heritage made in terms of sustainable devel- management. The committee also versary of the founding of the Com- mittee members to seek common Maritime Silk Road and an outstand- education, continue to co-organize opment of World Heritage, World fully recognized the achievements munist Party of China and also the ground while shelving differences ing exemplar of the world’s maritime the International Youth Forum on Heritage conservation in Africa, the and progress made by the Salonga 50th anniversary of China’s restora- and forging consensus, and ensured trade centers. It has witnessed the Creativity and Heritage along the response to the impact of climate National Park in the Democratic tion of its lawful seat in UNESCO. the smooth proceeding of the consid- brilliant historical chapter of China’s Silk Roads, and motivate the youth change on World Heritage and nomi- Republic of Congo in eliminating This session of the World Heritage eration of the items on the agenda. long-standing splendor at the center of different countries to support and nation process reform, among other threats of war and illegal poaching, Committee, hosted by China, show- Fuzhou, as the host city and guid- of the world stage, the exchanges and participate in the noble cause of things. and unanimously agreed to remove cased the outstanding achievements ed by the concept of organizing a cul- mutual learning between Eastern World Heritage protection. The second achievement is the it from the List of World Heritage in made by the Communist Party of Chi- tural, green, and digitalized session, and Western civilizations, the friend- implementation of the Global Strate- Danger, which is of great signifi- na by uniting and leading the Chi- made thorough preparations in ly exchanges among the peoples of Wang Kaihao contributed to this gy to enrich the heritage list. In 1994, cance for promoting World Heritage nese people, demonstrated the organizing offline activities, includ- different countries, and the vibrancy story.