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Hu: Heritage protection an imperative task
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-06-28 10:06
Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday called on the international community
to strengthen protection of world heritage properties, describing the mission
"imperative" to all in the world.
Hu made the remark in a message of congratulation to the opening of the 28th
Session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC), which is held in Suzhou in east
China's Jiangsu province from June 28 to July 7.
The message was read by
Chinese State Councilor Chen Zhili at the opening ceremony.
The world heritage protection is "both a lofty historical obligation and a
necessary requirement to maintain the continuation of human civilization and
realize a sustainable development," he said.
The Chinese president
noted that every country has its unique cultural and natural heritages, which
are not only a precious legacy of a country or a nationality, but also treasures
of mankind.
However, many valuable cultural and natural heritages have beeneroded after a
long history or have suffered damages by human activities, while some have even
been on the brink of being fully ruined, Hu said.
"It is an imperative task for the international community to strengthen
protection of world heritage properties," he said.
China demonstrates full commitment to heritage protection: UNESCO
official
China has demonstrated its full commitment to preserving and safeguarding
heritage sites and traditions in accordance with the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Convention of 1972,
a senior UNESCO official said in Suzhou Monday.
"China has an extensive and especially impressive cultural heritage," said
Chairman of UNESCO Executive Board Hans-Heinrich Wrede at the opening ceremony
of the 28th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC), which will last
through July 7.
"In a world as diverse as ours, understanding our individual and collective
histories becomes vitally important to forging a common destiny in the 21st
century," Wrede said.
He expressed the hope to see a fruitful session this time, saying that much
has already been accomplished by WHC in a relatively short time.
"Not
too long ago, the world was still largely ignorant of the need to preserve
cultural and natural sites. We did not yet, as wedo now, understand how fragile
and how necessary as well this heritage is to a dignified life in the modern
world," Wrede said.
He appreciated the preparations made by the host city for the session and
hoped to learn more about Suzhou, with its renowned body of talent in
architecture, painting, opera and literature.
"The possibility to learn more about Chinese culture, the people, country and
traditions is a rare privilege," he said.
Heritage protection major aim, major struggle: UNESCO
official
President of the UNESCO General Conference Michael Omolewa said in
Suzhou Monday that heritage conservation remains "a major aim and a major
struggle," but it must be ensured that conservation efforts are development
oriented.
"This maybe the major challenge for the World Heritage Committee nowadays,"
Omolewa told the 28th Session of the World Heritage Committee which opened in
Suzhou, a scenic city adjacent to Shanghai.
With the recent entrance of the Kingdom of Tonga, the World Heritage
Convention has a total of 178 member signatories. In the 32 years of the
existence of the Convention, remarkable progress has been made. The World
Heritage List currently comprises 754 sites in 129 countries.
"However," Omolewa said. "This also means that there exists an imbalance with
the List, and one of the main purpose of the Committee nowadays is to work
actively to reduce this imbalance."
"The Committee's attachment to heritage -- and thus the wish to reach a
balanced representation on the World Heritage List -- finds its roots in our
deep attachment to the diversity of conceptions of the world that it reflects,"
he said, noting it is increasingly obvious that the whole subject of heritage is
closely bound up with the question of cultural diversity.
Omolewa stressed that the success of the World Heritage Convention is to
provide a framework for the protection of world heritage, which goes far beyond
its most visible aspects.
It promotes cultural dialogue and the recognition of cultural differences,
supports sustainable development strategies and encourages the safe and
long-term management of natural resources.
"Therefore, it is also instrumental in preventing conflicts and contributes
to the reconciliation process associated to post-conflict situation," he said,
adding: "Conservation remains, of course, a main aim and a major
challenge."
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