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