Speech by H.E. Mr. Wang Yingfan, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to the UN at the Opening Ceremony of the World Cultural Heritage Photo Exhibition

Mr. Bouchenaki,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good Evening!

Thank you for your presence at this World Cultural Heritage Photo Exhibition, which is co-sponsored by UNESCO and the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations.

Since this year marks the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage, UNESCO has organized a series of commemorative events and activities. It has also made tremendous efforts to raise public awareness throughout the world in promoting the protection of cultural heritage, thus scoring good results.  For this, we would like to express our appreciation. Next year, the 27th session of the World Heritage Committee is to be held in China.  We will make every effort to make it a success.

China has already registered 28 world cultural and natural relics.  The six photos that the Chinese Mission is presenting at this exhibition represent China's major significant archeological discoveries in the 20th century.  All of them have now been included in the world Heritage List, among which include the site of about 700-thousand –year-old Peking Man, the well-known Terracotta Warriors from the tomb of the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty and so on. The Chinese Government attaches importance to the protection of these sites and relics.  In the process of economic development, China has devoted zealously to bringing together history and modern times so as to achieve their harmonious development.

Being one of the sponsors of the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage, the Chinese Government sincerely hopes that this exhibition will make its contribution to the protection of the world cultural heritage.

Thank you very much.