On Aug 29, 2012, a seminar on Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage in ASEAN and China opened in Beijing. It was co-hosted by the ASEAN-China Center, China Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center and International Training Center of UNESCO Asia-Pacific Intangible Cultural Heritage (CRIHAP). Diplomats from the 10 members of ASEAN stationed in China, directors of the intangible cultural heritage division and Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture, directors of the provincial cultural departments and intangible cultural heritage centers of Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Hainan and several experts in this field attended the meeting. The representatives discussed the process of the China-ASEAN intangible cultural heritage research and preservation at the national level and the related problem about the Convention of Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage. Ma Mingqiang, secretary general of the ASEAN-China Center; Li Xinfeng, executive deputy director of China Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center and Yang Zhi, director of the CRIHAP, gave speeches at the opening ceremony.

At the meeting, Ma Mingqiang introduced the purpose, function, and achievements in cultural exchanges and cooperation since the ASEAN-China Center was founded. Li Xinfeng and China-stationed diplomats representing the ASEAN member countries respectively introduced their safeguarding work on intangible cultural heritage at the national level. Liu Kuili, research fellow and honorary member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, discussed the principle to be followed and the problem to be noted regarding the contracting parties in the process of performing the convention. Yang Zhi introduced the basic information, latest news and UNESCO’s Global Strategy for Strengthening National Capacities for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage. He also introduced the purpose, function and primary service of the CRIHAP on the level of UNESCO and from the perspective of the international institutes.

During the meeting, a public picture show of examples of China-ASEAN Human Intangible Cultural Heritage and a short performance featuring representative works, such as Mongolian long tune, kunqu opera and guqin, was held.

It is said that the seminar was the first cooperative effort in the field of regional safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage among the ASEAN-China Center, China Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center and CRIHAP. In the future, the three centers will further promote communication and cooperation and endeavor to develop and expand the safeguarding cause of intangible cultural heritage in the region.

The colorful intangible cultural heritage inherited by China and every nation of ASEAN fully embodies the cultural diversity in this region. However, much of the precious intangible cultural heritage in the region has met with different levels of menace and impact in the process of regional economic rise and integration. It is a common aspiration for China and ASEAN member states to continue carrying forward their brilliant traditional culture, including intangible cultural heritage. By doing so, the countries can promote economic and technological development and achieve the perfect combination of tradition and modern, thus exploring a developing road in line with the characteristics of this region. Since China and ASEAN built a dialogue relationship 20 years ago, multi-level and multi-channel cultural communications and cooperation have been developed. In recent years, China has developed bilateral and multilateral communication and cooperation with ASEAN member states based on the theme of researching and safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. These have greatly enriched the cultural exchanges between China and ASEAN.