President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to the conservation and inheritance of cultural heritage. He proposed the Global Civilization Initiative, and sent a congratulatory letter to the inaugural general assembly of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia. He emphasizes that Asia is a key cradle of human civilization. It bred and preserved its rich cultural heritage, writing highlighted chapters for world history in civilization development. He calls for respect for the diversity of civilizations, upholding the common values of humanity, and promoting robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.

In order to continuously expand international communication and cooperation in cultural relics, and deepen the Asian Initiative for Cultural Heritage Conservation, we held the inaugural general assembly of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia in Xi'an, China in April, during which Kong Vireak was elected as General Secretary of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia. Altogether more than 150 delegates from 22 Asian countries and three international organizations gathered to jointly explore a new path of protection of cultural heritage in Asia. The Asian Fund for Cultural Heritage Conservation has collected 88 million yuan ($12 million) to support the Asian Initiative for Cultural Heritage Conservation. China signed bilateral joint declarations on cooperation of the Asian Initiative for Cultural Heritage Conservation with Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Syria and Cambodia. We cooperated with Bangladesh and five other Asian countries to launch 11 conservation and restoration projects concerning historical monuments. We conducted 33 joint archaeology programs with 19 Asian countries and reached intergovernmental agreements preventing cultural relics theft, clandestine excavation, and illicit import and export of cultural property with Cambodia and Pakistan.

In 2019, The Splendor of Asia: An Exhibition of Asian Civilizations, which gathered 451 groups of cultural relics from 47 Asian countries and two countries with brilliant ancient civilizations, Egypt and Greece, showed the lineage of Asian civilizations and constructed a bridge for people-to-people connectivity.

Diversity spurs interaction among civilizations, which in turn promotes mutual learning and their further development. Cultural heritage is an important outcome of the development of human civilization and natural evolution, and an important vehicle for the exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations. To well protect, inherit and make good use of these precious treasures is our shared responsibility, and is of vital importance to the continuity of human civilization and the sustainable development of the world. We advocate for a more open-minded attitude to implement the Global Civilization Initiative, and promote close international cooperation in the protection of cultural heritage. Through the convergence of diverse cultures, we can advance the exchange and mutual learning of civilizations, and jointly promote the development of human civilization.

First, we will carry out joint archaeological research and deepen research on civilization. With the principles of equality and an open mind, we will encompass major subjects such as human origin, global ancient civilization, and the Belt and Road Initiative to make plans for joint archaeological work and establish sound mechanisms for coordinating joint archaeological efforts. We encourage more Chinese experts to participate in important archaeological work in Asia, and welcome scholars from all countries to cooperate with us in archaeological excavations and civilization research in China. We seek to promote dialogue and harmonious coexistence among different civilizations and provide inspiration for the development of contemporary human society.

Second, we will tell good stories of cultural relics and enhance mutual understanding among people. With a tolerant and sharing attitude, we will work together to strengthen the research and interpretation of cultural relics, historical remains, and archaeological sites, explore the multiple values of cultural relics and cultural heritage, and give play to the communication advantages of the Asia News Network and the resource advantages of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia. We will jointly build an international communication platform and a cooperation network for civilization dialogue in Asia, so that we can bring back to life relics sleeping in closed palaces, legacies of the vast land of China and records in ancient books, comprehensively present the outstanding characteristics of the Chinese civilization, showcase the achievements of human civilization exchange and cooperation in a comprehensive and in-depth manner and promote mutual understanding and friendship among the people of all countries.

Third, we will expand exchange and cooperation to protect shared cultural heritage. With a win-win cooperation attitude, we will carry out Asian Initiative for Cultural Heritage Conservation, continuously enrich the Asian Fund for Cultural Heritage Conservation. We will promote cooperation projects for the protection and restoration of cultural relics, enhance efforts in disaster prevention and mitigation for cultural relics and promote the cultivation of talent in cultural relic conservation. We will jointly safeguard the cultural and natural treasures of humanity, so that we can make the garden of world civilizations colorful and vibrant.

Director, the National Cultural Heritage Administration