China will nominate two more sites for inclusion on the World
Heritage List, at the 30th session of the World Heritage Committee
which begins in Lithuania on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Construction has published it's first
natural heritage list, to increase awareness of the need to protect
the nation's unspoilt wild spaces.
The first site to be nominated is the Yin Ruins in Central
China's Henan Province, which were once the capital of
the Shang dynasty's empire 3,300 years ago. Ancient inscribed bones
and the world's largest bronze vessel the Simuwu Square Vessel have
been unearthed there. The other nominee is the area inhabited by
giant pandas in Southwest China's Sichuan Province.
China currently has 31 sites included on the World Heritage
List, ranking third behind Spain and Italy.
"The World Heritage Committee focuses on protection," said Tian
Xiaogang, secretary-general of the China National Committee of the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization.
In order to strengthen the protection of China's natural
heritage, the Ministry of Construction will compile a list of
natural sites and sites with both natural and cultural
importance.
The first batch of 30 sites was unveiled yesterday in
Beijing.
From the list, the ministry will choose nominees for the World
Heritage List, said Chen Xiaoli, senior official with the
ministry.
The Ministry of Construction is in charge of picking nominees for
both natural heritage sites and sites with both natural and
cultural properties, while the Ministry of Culture is in charge of
cultural sites. Among the 31 world heritage sites in China, only
four are included for their natural properties, and five for both
natural and cultural properties, according to the website of the
Ministry of Culture.
The ministry hopes compiling the new list will encourage
managers' to look after the listed sites and learn the
international rules of world heritage management. "Sites on the
list are required to deliver annual inspection reports to local
construction administrations. Those who fail to take adequate
protection measures will be removed from the list," said Wang
Fengwu, a senior official with the Ministry of Construction.
(China Daily July 6, 2006)
