World Heritage Review - Volume 2021, Issue 99, 2021

On the occasion of the 44th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee that will take place in Fuzhou, China, I would like to extend sincere congratulations on its successful convening on behalf of the National Cultural Heritage Administration of China. I would also like to thank the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, the World Heritage Centre, ICOMOS and ICCROM, as well as their experts, for their continued attention, support and assistance to the development of cultural World Heritage sites in China.

World Heritage is the common wealth of all mankind and protects natural areas and cultural relics of prominent value around the globe. Natural World Heritage sites crystalize nature’s most amazing creations over billions of years, carry the spiritual and cultural values of humanity and relate to the ecological security of the Earth. Since 1985 when China acceded to the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, it has actively fulfilled its obligations under the Convention, made solid progress in various areas, effectively protected precious and unique natural and cultural heritage and natural ecological environments, embarked on a path of world heritage sustainable development in the Chinese context, and contributed Chinese wisdom and resources to World Heritage protection.

Over the long course of history, human beings, blessed with the gifts of nature, created brilliant civilizations and left behind an invaluable treasure – cultural and natural World Heritage. These irreplaceable cultural and natural assets with Outstanding Universal Value represent a magnificent genetic map of human civilizations and the most beautiful chapters of nature; a link between history and the future; and a means to promote mutual understanding and mutual learning among different civilizations, providing cultural guidance and strong motivation for humanity. Therefore, it is the common responsibility of all humankind to duly preserve, transmit, and utilize World Heritage.

World Heritage is a common cause of humanity. The World Heritage Convention adopted by UNESCO in 1972 expresses the international community’s desire to protect humanity’s cultural and natural heritage. It deems loss of heritage a loss of humanity and calls for the development of an international legal framework on the basis of the Convention and through extensive international cooperation, encouraging States Parties to use concerted efforts to address today’s challenges to cultural diversity and environmental resources. The World Heritage Convention reflects the trend of building a global village and a community for creating a shared future for all humanity.

Fuzhou means ‘land of blessings’ in Chinese. This city, also known as the ‘banyan city’, is found in the southeastern part of China. The capital of Fujian Province, it covers a land area of 12,000 sq km and its current permanent population totals 7.74 million. Fuzhou is a beautiful and ancient city, founded more than 2,200 years ago and incorporating over 7,000 years of historical and cultural tradition. Named Yecheng City until the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.E to 220 C.E.), the city has grown six times larger while maintaining its central axis unchanged. Its layout featuring ‘three mountains, two pagodas and one main street’ is based on the philosophy of ‘achieving harmonious coexistence between human and nature’ in ancient Chinese architecture. In the preface of Fuzhou: Ancient Buildings, President Xi Jinping praised Fuzhou, saying ‘It is a city surrounded by waters and mountains. The mother river runs across the city and flows into the sea, while the mountains and hills are dotted around the whole city. It is a historic and cultural city with a superior natural environment and a beautiful landscape.’