In an international legal context, the understanding of cultural heritage has been determined by the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage 2003. However, the meaning of protection and how to protect heritage are main questions waiting to be answered. In this context, the international training class held in Beijing from Dec 12-19, 2012 for the implementation of the convention solved that problem. The training was organized by the International Training Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region. Nearly 20 experts were invited from the ministeries of culture and ministeries of education in the Republic of Palau, the Kingdom of Tonga, and the Republic of Fiji.

In the past decade, 146 countries have become member states of the convention. Their priority is to fulfill the convention. So the purpose of the training is to deepen the understanding of the convention and promote each member state to carry out their obligations effectively.

The training consisted of three parts. The first part introduced the basic knowledge of the convention. The second part explained related questions about how to establish policies and institutions to protect cultural heritage as well as how to encourage local communities to join in the event. The last part was about how to maintain the sustainable development of the protection of intangible cultural heritage.

The six-day-training improved the member states’ understanding of the convention, deepened their knowledge of the state of intangible cultural heritage in the South-Pacific region and strengthened the communication among them. It was beneficial to further exchanges and cooperation in the protection of intangible cultural heritage.

The International Training Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region was set up under the agreement between Beijing and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It aims to organize international training, boost the implementation of the convention and promote the protection of intangible cultural heritage.

This event is a milestone after the establishment of the center. After that the center will continue to strengthen cooperation with UNESCO, institutions in countries of the Asia-Pacific region, and experts in the field of protection of heritage. In addition it will prepare for the next several sessions of international training.