Representatives from China's 33 world heritage sites on Friday
signed an agreement to enhance protection of the sites.
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Chinese cultural and natural heritage sites, which have been
recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 1987, include the Palace
Museum in Beijing, Taishan Mountain in Shandong Province and Emei
Mountain in Sichuan Province, where the agreement was signed.
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Zhu Yujie, an official of UNESCO's world heritage project, said
enhanced protection of the world's natural and cultural heritage
was of crucial importance.
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These sites had high historic, cultural and scientific value, and
the government had worked hard for their protection, Zhu said.
However, the sites had met with many problems such as natural
disasters, over-exposure to human activities and pollution.
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"It will be a huge and long-term task to protect and manage them
properly," he said.
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During the one-day world heritage protection forum held at Emei
Mountain Administration Center, participants discussed ways to
solve the problems.
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The vice curator of Beijing's Palace Museum Zhou Suqin said experts
were using modern technologies, such as liquid injection in wall
repair and three-dimensional digital exhibition, to repair and
protect the 600-year old imperial palace.
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The Convention on the Protection of World Cultural and Natural
Heritage, which UNESCO adopted in 1972, requires all its members to
preserve and safeguard listed sites, which are protected during
times of war.
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Candidate cultural sites are required to have historic, artistic,
archeological scientific and anthropological value, while natural
sites must offer distinct ecological and geographical
features.
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China joined the convention in 1985 and filed an application the
following year. The first group of six Chinese sites was added to
the list in 1987.
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The sites were: Mount Taishan in Shandong Province; Great Wall and
the Palace Museum in Beijing; Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Gansu
Province; Tomb of Qinshihuang in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi
Province; and Peking Man site near Zhoukoudian in southwest
Beijing.
(Xinhua?News Agency?December 2, 2006)