World Experts Call on More Careful Protection for HeritageParticipants of an international heritage protection symposium agreed today that global relics should be well preserved during the urbanization process.The three-day symposium, "China--Cultural Heritage Management and Urban Development: Challenge and Opportunity," hosted by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, the Ministry of Construction, the World Bank and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, ended this afternoon at the Palace Museum in Beijing. Some 200 participants noted that the cultural relics remaining in cities reveal features of their ancient civilization. The efforts made by cities in various countries for heritage preservation have helped continue the their historical tradition, the experts said. At the threshold of the 21st century, the people in the world increasingly acknowledge the importance of safeguarding precious relics. However, the rapid economic growth is endangering heritage sites, and even threatening the heritage. The participants urged all states in the world to draw up a complete system of laws to protect cultural treasures as well as long-term preservation plan. Meanwhile, the urbanites must shoulder responsibilities for maintaining precious ancient architecture and other art forms in the world, they said. Discussions focused on the establishment of cultural heritage lists, the planning and protection of historical sites, rational use of ancient buildings and sites, and the relationship between relics protection and tourism promotion. |
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