Wang Fuzhou, Vice-President, the Chinese National Academy of Arts, and Director-General of China National Centre for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage, delivers a speech on Dec 20.

Wang Fuzho said China has always taken the implementation of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage as a basic prerequisite to its ICH safeguarding endeavors. And it has since made great progress in ICH safeguarding over the past 20 years, with more ICH elements included in UNESCO’s list than any other country and offering rich experiences in ICH safeguarding to the state parties of the Convention.

Shahbaz Khan, UNESCO Beijing Office Director, gives a recorded video speech to the opening ceremony of the workshop on Dec 20.

In his recorded video speech, Shahbaz Khan said ICH safeguarding is inseparable from social development, economic development, social practice and creative industries. He believed the training may help the trainees gain a deeper understanding of the interrelations between these issues, all critical for fulfilling the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Liang Bin, CRIHAP Director-General, attends the opening ceremony of the workshop and delivers a speech on Dec 20.

Liang Bin gave a brief overview of the close cooperation of CRIHAP with the Intangible Cultural Heritage Department and UNESCO over the past years. He believed the training will enhance mutual understanding among all parties involved and lay a solid foundation for cooperation between CRIHAP and the ICH safeguarding centres nationwide.