Participants at the 2023 Beijing International Media Forum pose for a photo during their visit to the Temple of Heaven in Beijing on 13 October

Beijing is renowned for the breathtaking scenery of falling leaves, best seen in October when autumn arrives. Tom Jalio, a journalist with The Star in Kenya, was mesmerised by the view when he arrived in the city to attend the 2023 Beijing International Media Forum. The forum discussed protecting and using world cultural heritage while fostering mutual learning among civilisations. 

On the eve of the conference, he met with media representatives from over 60 partner countries and regions of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and toured many historical monuments, including the Summer Palace, the Grand Canal, and the Temple of Heaven. He also enjoyed a Kunqu opera performance, which is a priceless example of intangible cultural heritage. The Kenyan journalist was in awe of the beauty of China’s cultural treasures. 

“With seven World Heritage sites, Beijing city holds the record for most sites in the world. That is quite remarkable,” he told ChinAfrica. “My visit has shown me the effort put into preserving these sites. I have seen the beauty of traditional architecture that is hundreds of years old, each with its own interesting history. I have also seen the colourful dresses and rich cultural heritage that is displayed in traditional Chinese opera. I think Beijing is doing a good job in keeping these traditions alive.” 

A participant at the 2023 Beijing International Media Forum takes a selfie with actors of the Kunqu opera in Beijing on 13 October  

Beijing’s commitment 

Chen Mingjie, director of the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau, spoke at the event on 14 October about the city’s experience in safeguarding architectural landmarks. According to him, the local government is integrating this into the sustainable development of regional tourism, into the spiritual and cultural life of the public, into urban planning and into the Chinese capital’s international exchanges. “In the field of urban planning, we have placed the protection of world heritage at the forefront of the conservation of historical and cultural remains, and a range of standards have been formulated for each restoration project,” he stated. 

For instance, the Grand Canal was recognised as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2014. With a 2,500-year history, the longest artificial waterway in the world stretching from Beijing to Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province still plays a dynamic role in transportation. 

As a result of an ambitious plan the central government unveiled in 2019, the Grand Canal Belt was created to promote coordinated social and economic development along the canal. Later, over 10 canal-themed tourist routes in seven riverbank districts were developed by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Thanks to meticulous research and restoration, more than 50 heritage sites such as sluice gates, bridges, and ancient ruins are now scattered along the 82-km Beijing section of the canal, resembling “cultural pearls.” 

Tang Yuyang, executive vice president of the Academy of Architectural Heritage of the Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, has validated Beijing’s efforts to preserve the world cultural heritage. Her evaluation report, as an impartial assessor, was based on data spanning five years. In addition to employing 4,717 people for protection and management, Beijing’s seven World Heritage sites welcomed 210 million visitors, and were the subject of over 150 research projects between 2018 and 2022. A system of yearly reporting and an independent monitoring service for six of these locations were established by the municipality in 2020. 

“The five-year data summary shows that the protection and management of Beijing’s World Heritage sites is on the right track, and that a protection system with different subjects, values and funding has taken shape,” she claimed. 

The Joint Initiative of Beijing International Media Forum is launched at the 2023 Beijing International Media Forum in Beijing on 14 October 

Media participation 

Jalio believes that the media is essential to preserving and promoting cultural heritage across the globe. “The media is a powerful tool in creating awareness. It can help to showcase the heritage and make people see the value of preserving it because it attracts tourists, creates jobs and generates revenue for the economy,” he told ChinAfrica. He gave Kenya as an example of a country with a lot of historical sites, which, according to him, are a window into ancient civilisations and equally deserve to be highlighted by the media. These include Fort Jesus at the Coast, the oldest Swahili settlement in Lamu, the archaeological site in Turkana where the oldest human fossils were found, among others. 

A large number of the forum participants shared this viewpoint. The world’s cultural history represents the essence of cultures and civilisations, said Chen Yuming, vice president of China Public Diplomacy Association. According to him, cultural history serves as an intriguing ambassador that highlights the distinctive cultural heritage of every country. He highlighted the critical function that the media plays as a medium for cross-cultural dialogue and connection. 

Li Xuemei, deputy editor-in-chief of Beijing Daily, underlined the potential that digital technology presents for translating the technical language of heritage conservation into a language that ordinary people can understand. To her, modern technology provides a means of creating a living, physical history that allows a broader audience to experience the power of civilisations. 

The launch of the Joint Initiative of Beijing International Media Forum embodies this spirit. Encouraging mutual learning and enriching interactions among all entities, it calls for efforts to preserve the diversity of civilisations. Promoting constructive discussion and collaboration across civilisations in a spirit of mutually beneficial cooperation, it supports the preservation of cultural legacy via creative approaches and the protection of humanity’s universal ideals through tolerance and understanding.