From Wednesday 27 to Thursday 28 October 2021, the Cultural Heritage Administration of China will co-host with the Municipality of Beijing the “Asian Dialogue for Cultural Heritage Conservation”.

This multilateral conference will bring together cultural representatives from more than 30 Asian countries and international experts to discuss cultural heritage conservation under the theme ‘Asian Initiative for Cultural Heritage Conservation: Promoting Dialogue among Civilizations, Shaping the Future of Asia’. Three parallel sessions will be organized to reflect upon the role of cultural heritage as a tool for sustainable development, for exchanges and mutual learning and as a response to address Asia’s future challenges. The Dialogue will be in a hybrid manner combining online and on-site formats.

The Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Xing Qu, will represent the Organization and address the meeting through a congratulatory video message on this important occasion.

The Asian Dialogue for Cultural Heritage Conservation will foster increased cooperation amongst Asian countries with the common objective of addressing challenges and develop capacity-building activities to improve approaches to the conservation and management of cultural heritage in the region.

On this occasion, the Leader of Beijing Municipality will launch the Asian Alliance for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The latter will provide opportunities to develop an international cooperation mechanism for the conservation of cultural heritage across Asia.

This Conference will also allow the release of the Recommendations from the Asian Initiative for Cultural Heritage Conservation to be announced by Mr Qun LI, Administrator of the National Cultural Administration of China (NCHA).

As driving forces for change and long-term conservation, young professionals will also be involved through the launch of the Asian Youth Ambassador Program for Cultural Heritage Conservation.  

Finally, three digital exhibitions on the Asian Cultural Heritage, the Central Axis of Beijing (inscribed on the Tentative List) and the Royal Gardens of Qing Dynasty (World heritage property ‘Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang’) will also be inaugurated.