“The cultural heritage protection should be a common concern for the nation’s public, which prompts the need to promise their right to know, to participate and to supervise the whole process,” advocated Shan Jixiang, head of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage during a forum on cultural heritage preservation which opened recently.
He was not alone. Numerous experts in this area echoed their support, saying the solely reliance on related government policies do not bode well for the cultural heritage protection, the public should be fully motivated.
Currently, protection of the country's cultural and natural resources leaves much to be desired. Besides natural calamities such as earthquakes and landslides, indiscriminate development such as booming tourism is endangering many historic sites and natural marvels.
As economic globalization and modernization picks up speed, China faces a heavy task to protect and salvage its cultural relics.
Boosting public involvement in cultural heritage preservation is undoubtedly the best way to cultivate people's sense for protecting cultural and natural resources. Colorful public activities, including exhibitions, are urgently needed to enhance public awareness of the importance of cultural heritage protection and inspire the young people to love the fine traditional culture of the motherland.
To do so will encourage and mobilize the public to participate in heritage conservation locally and globally, and to mobilize youth to respond to the continuing threats facing the survival of the world cultural and natural heritage.
The increase of such public participation in Chinese cultural heritage preservation will certainly help the nation’s young people realize the significance of common heritage, learn about World Heritage sites, the history and traditions of different cultures, ecology, and the importance of protecting biological and cultural diversity.
More importantly, it will help plant a sense of responsibility in the minds of young participants. This is critical in protecting these cultural and natural legacies, as well as our living environment and the limited resources for sustainable development.
As Director General of the State of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage(SACH), People's Republic of China, Shan Jixiang represents the Chinese government and the country's planning and cultural preservation professions.
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