Preserving Historical Treasures
Beijing forum calls for media cooperation to protect the world cultural heritage
Beijing is renowned for the breathtaking scenery of falling leaves, best seen in October when autumn arrives. Tom Jalio, a journalist with The Star in Kenya, was mesmerised by the view when he arrived in the city to attend the 2023 Beijing International Media Forum. The forum discussed protecting and using world cultural heritage while fostering mutual learning among civilisations.
On the eve of the conference, he met with media representatives from over 60 partner countries and regions of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and toured many historical monuments, including the Summer Palace, the Grand Canal, and the Temple of Heaven. He also enjoyed a Kunqu opera performance, which is a priceless example of intangible cultural heritage. The Kenyan journalist was in awe of the beauty of China’s cultural treasures.
“With seven World Heritage sites, Beijing city holds the record for most sites in the world. That is quite remarkable,” he told ChinAfrica. “My visit has shown me the effort put into preserving these sites. I have seen the beauty of traditional architecture that is hundreds of years old, each with its own interesting history. I have also seen the colourful dresses and rich cultural heritage that is displayed in traditional Chinese opera. I think Beijing is doing a good job in keeping these traditions alive.”
Beijing’s commitment
Chen Mingjie, director of the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau, spoke at the event on 14 October about the city’s experience in safeguarding architectural landmarks. According to him, the local government is integrating this into the sustainable development of