China shares its experiences at World Heritage Committee session

China's practices were shared during the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, demonstrating practical pathways for effective nomination, protection and management.

"Since 2024, the National Cultural Heritage Administration of China has been donating to ICOMOS to fund a joint research project to develop a handbook for the interpretation of key data and case studies of World Heritage," Rao Quan, vice-minister of culture and tourism and head of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, said at an event themed "Understanding Attributes of Outstanding Universal Value through Case Studies in the Chinese Context".

The concept of outstanding universal value is a key standard used to assess whether a property can be included on the World Heritage List.

The side event was co-hosted by International Council on Monuments and Sites, National Cultural Heritage Administration of China, and the People's Government of Sichuan Province, with ICOMOS China and Sichuan Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration as co-organizers.

Noting next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the inscription of China's first World Heritage sites, Rao said he hopes to see the project's complete outcomes, which will be released soon, helping global heritage practitioners align their understanding of "attributes" through standardized and systematic terms.

The participants shared the ongoing projects and reflected on the experience and challenges in applying the concept of attributes in China. Case studies presented included the West Lake Cultural Landscape in East China's Zhejiang province, and the Old Tea Forests of Jingmai Mountain in Southwest China's Yunnan province.

Noting there are many difficulties in understanding the complexity of the term "attributes" in the World Heritage system, ICOMOS President Teresa Patricio said she hopes the project can provide a strong foundation for safeguarding heritage values and enhancing management effectiveness.

In addition to its existing five World Heritage sites, Cao Xia, a representative from the Sichuan government, said the government is also working on the nomination of the Sanxingdui-Jinsha ruins sites of ancient Shu civilization.

"The joint research project provides solid guidance for improving the effectiveness of World Heritage nomination, protection, and management," he said.

As one of the participants at the side event, Martin Lenk, vice-chair of the nongovernmental organization World Heritage Watch, told China Daily that he was impressed by the natural and cultural heritage sites in Sichuan, particularly the giant panda sanctuaries, when he visited the province in 2024.