Cultural relic protection takes priority

The Beijing Cultural Relics Protection Association marked its 40th anniversary with a commemorative event and an academic exchange symposium at the Capital Museum in Beijing on Monday.

In the 1980s, as urban construction rapidly developed in Beijing, cultural relic protection faced new challenges. The association, officially founded in 1985, released a new approach to the conservation of cultural relics characterized by government leadership and public participation.

Over the years, the association has placed great emphasis on building a strong talent pool and launched a training program for young craftspeople in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei for three consecutive years. Through measures such as specialized training and skills competitions, the overall professional level of Beijing's cultural heritage sector has greatly improved.

The association has established diverse platforms, including two WeChat accounts for information sharing. It also hosts high-level academic forums and provides professional support for cultural heritage preservation in the country.

Its membership comprises 129 institutions, with nearly all eligible cultural and museum organizations in Beijing now participating. This expansion has solidified the association's role as the industry's central unifying force.

The association announced at the event that it will continue to prioritize preservation and rescue, promote rational use, and strengthen management.

It will further leverage its expert think tank to deepen research on cultural heritage conservation. It will build platforms to foster the appropriate use of cultural heritage resources, promote the application of digital technology in exhibition displays, and strengthen professional training.

At the symposium, Li Yongge, an expert in ancient architecture and heritage conservation, suggested that training for professionals specializing in cultural heritage conservation should be intensified, particularly in the restoration of immovable cultural relics.