The Chinese National Committee for the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS/China) will be the Chinese Government's leading adviser regarding the protection and conservation of China's World Cultural Heritage, an authoritative Chinese government official has revealed.

It will also be the principal adviser regarding the recommendation of Chinese cultural heritage for inclusion on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Cultural Heritage List.

State Administration of Cultural Heritage Director Shan Jixiang announced this at last Friday's ICOMOS/China national conference.

Attending the conference were 131 cultural heritage protection experts from around the country.

Pointing out that local governments across China are "very enthusiastic" about the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List, Shan said that "the administrative committees of more than 100 cultural and natural heritage sites in China have said they will apply for inclusion on the list."

The involvement of ICOMOS/China in drawing up a waiting list of these applicants is vital, given that the number is so large, he added.

"We really need the involvement of more professionals and scientists in the making of a waiting list."

Founded in 1965, the ICOMOS is an international, non-governmental organization dedicated to the conservation of the world's historic monuments and sites.

It is UNESCO's principal adviser regarding the conservation and protection of monuments and sites.

With national committees in more than 107 countries, it functions as an international adviser to the World Heritage Committee and UNESCO on the nomination of new sites to the World Heritage List.

"Through its 21 International Scientific Committees of experts from around the world, and through its triennial general assembly, ICOMOS seeks to establish international standards for the preservation, restoration and management of the cultural environment," said ICOMOS General Secretary Dinu Bumbaru.

ICOMOS/China published standards for the preservation of Chinese cultural heritages in 2000, with reference to the 1964 Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites (The Venice Charter).

(China Daily August 9, 2004)