Chinese, foreign experts discuss heritage protection
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-10-17 21:09

The 15th General Assembly of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) opened Monday in the ancient city of Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

The five-day general assembly attracted about 1,000 experts from about 85 countries. The theme of the conference is "Monuments and Sites in their setting -- Conserving cultural heritage in changing townscapes and landscapes".

Experts in various parts of the world are confronted with unprecedented challenges in all fields of monument conservation, said Michael Petzet, president of ICOMOS.

"At the end of the 15th General Assembly of ICOMOS, a Xi'an Declaration will be made, and hopefully adopted, which will embody recommendations and guidance on ways to appraise, manage and protect settings which reflect not only planning and legal perspectives but also cultural, social, and economic approaches, that allow wider community participation and benefit," said Dinu Bumbaru, Secretary General of ICOMOS.

The ICOMOS is the only global non-governmental organization for the conservation and protection of monuments and sites and is officially recognized as an advisory body of the UNESCO.

The General Assembly meets every three years to elect the Executive Committee and renew the strategic plan and program for the triennium.