The Tripartite Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China, UNESCO and the International Training Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region (CRIHAP) as a Category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO, was recently signed. Following the initial agreement in 2010, this signing marks the second renewal of the agreement between the Chinese Government and UNESCO, which establishes a robust legal foundation for CRIHAP’s sustained operation and development from 2026 to 2033.

Established in Beijing on 22 February 2012, CRIHAP is one of the key UNESCO Category 2 Centres in the field of intangible cultural heritage, supported by the Government of China.

The objectives of CRIHAP shall be to:

a. promote the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003 Convention) and contribute to its implementation in the Asia and Pacific Region, thereby contributing to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals and other international development agendas;

b. increase the participation of communities, groups and individuals in safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage in the Asia and Pacific Region;

c. enhance the capacity of the Asia and Pacific Member States of UNESCO to safeguard ICH, particularly by strengthening the capacities of concerned personnel; and;

d. foster regional and international cooperation for the safeguarding of ICH.

In order to achieve the above objectives, the specific functions of CRIHAP will be to:

a. organize long-term and short-term training courses including classroom training and field-based training on the following subjects, and grant financial support to trainees in need of assistances:

· the 2003 Convention and its Operational Directives; different examples of policies including legal, administrative, technical and financial measures fostering the safeguarding of ICH;

· introduction to UNESCO publications on identification and documentation of ICH and their application in the field work;

· Teaching ICH in formal and non-formal education, including courses of theory and practice training;

· Any new training content developed by UNESCO for the effective implementation of the 2003 Convention.

b. mobilize international and Chinese experts as well as scientific NGOs specialized in the different domains of ICH to work as instructors and advisors of the above-mentioned training activities.

c. enhance international and regional cooperation with institutions active in the domain of ICH, notably those established under the auspices of UNESCO (category 2).