Mr. Zhang Aiping, specially-invited delegate of the Advisory Committee, Vice President of China International Culture Association, and former Director-General of Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China, spoke highly of CRIHAP’s past work and future work plan. He suggested that the CRIHAP should strengthen publicity for its work through the media in the future. At the same time, CRIHAP should strengthen its contacts with other relevant institutions and strive for the support of all stakeholders.

Ms. Zhang Ling, specially-invited delegate of the Advisory Committee, and Director of Division of International Organizations from the Bureau of International Exchange and Cooperation, China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said that it is rather difficult for CRIHAP to complete its planned work on the basis of overcoming various difficulties and setbacks. CRIHAP’s success has become a model for publicity on many bilateral or multilateral occasions. She said she hoped the centre will continue paying attention to the important role of facilitators in spreading the Convention, and enriching the facilitator resource of intangible cultural heritage in the Asia-Pacific.CRIHAP should serve as a platform and link to enhance the activeness and participation of facilitators in implementing and promoting the capacity-building strategy of intangible cultural heritage. Meanwhile, she hoped that the centre will further enrich the training content, and take gender, ICH and education, the safeguarding of ICH in emergencies and other priorities into the training in line with the new trend of the development of the Convention.

The meeting also discussed the appointment of new Chairperson of the Advisory Committee, renewal and supplementation of committee members.