Four World Heritage Sites in China Certified by UNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) issued on June 22 World Heritage Certificates to four Chinese sites.The four sites are Wuyi Mountain in east China's Fujian Province, Dazu Stone Carvings in Chongqing Municipality in the southwest, the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. They were listed as world heritage sites by UNESCO in 1998 and 1999. At a certificate issuing ceremony, Wei Yu, director of the Chinese Committee for UNESCO, said that "it is a historic task for us to protect world heritage sites." "It is important to well deal with the relationship between protecting world heritage sites and developing tourism," she added. China has 23 world heritage sites, ranking fourth after Italy, Spain and France. The world has some 630 world heritage sites in 118 countries. Zhang Wenbin, director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH), said that China has made great contributions to world heritage protection. But he warned local officials not to develop tourism at the expense of damaging the "integrity and authenticity" of world heritage sites. Vice-Minister of Construction Zhao Baojiang said that more places in China are hopeful of being listed as world heritage sites as the country has a vast territory, a long history and abundant natural resources. Zhang Siqing, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Noboru Noguchi, UNESCO Representative to China, attended the ceremony. |
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