This is the exterior scene of the opening ceremony of the 44th World Heritage Convention-Strait Culture and Art Center, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, taken on July 16.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Song Weiwei

  Xinhua News Agency, Fuzhou, July 16 (Reporters Tai Xiaoan and Zhang Yizhi) On the evening of the 16th, the 44th World Heritage Conference kicked off in Fuzhou.

As the only cultural heritage project declared by China at this conference, "Quanzhou: Song and Yuan China's World Ocean Trade Center" will be submitted for deliberation.

  On July 16, Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, delivered an online speech at the opening ceremony.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Song Weiwei

  Affected by the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the current World Heritage Conference, which was supposed to be held in 2020, has been postponed to this year.

In order to ensure the smooth holding of the conference, the conference will be held offline and online. For the first time, UNESCO will review world heritage issues online.

On July 16, guests attended the opening ceremony.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Song Weiwei

  Tian Xuejun, Vice Minister of Education, Director of the Chinese National Committee for UNESCO, and Chairman of the 44th World Heritage Conference, introduced that the current conference, which is scheduled to close on the 31st, is an "extended version" of the conference, which will consider two in 2020 and 2021. The annual World Heritage project is equivalent to double the workload of previous conferences.

Important updates will be made to the "World Heritage List" and other lists.

On July 16, the actors participated in the opening ceremony.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Song Weiwei

  There are currently 55 World Heritage Sites in China.

The project "Quanzhou: China's World Ocean Trade Center in Song and Yuan Dynasties", which will be submitted to this conference for deliberation, is composed of 22 representative historical sites and their associated environments and spaces.

In early June of this year, the advisory body, the International Council of Monuments and Sites, recommended that the Quanzhou project be included in the World Heritage List "without reservation."

On July 16, the actors participated in the opening ceremony.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Song Weiwei

  At this conference, the World Heritage Committee will also supervise and guide the protection of the World Heritage listed on the list.

The prospects of some of the heritage projects that may be delisted or listed as endangered have attracted much attention.

  It is understood that the conference will focus on the various challenges and risks faced by the protection of world heritage, brainstorming, and put forward new consensus and new consensus on coping with future challenges and promoting the realization of the "Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage" strategic goals and the balanced and sustainable development of world heritage. initiative.

On July 16, the actors participated in the opening ceremony.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Song Weiwei

  A series of supporting activities and side events will be held during the conference.

  Fuzhou is the capital of Fujian Province. It has more than 7,000 years of historical and cultural accumulation, and more than 2,200 years of city-building history. It is a famous historical and cultural city in China.