On July 25, 2021, at the extended 44th session of the World Heritage Committee, the States Parties of the World Heritage Committee unanimously decided to inscribe the nomination "Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China" on the World Heritage List. The CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and Fujian Provincial Government issued a congratulatory letter for this event in the first place. The full text of the congratulatory letter reads as follows:

To the Chinese delegation to the extended 44th session of the World Heritage Committee:

We are delighted to hear that the "Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China" series of world cultural heritage nomination was reviewed and approved at the extended 44th session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO today. We would like to extend our warm congratulations to you, pay high tribute to all the experts, scholars, and staff who have worked hard for this, and express our gratitude to people from all walks of life at home and abroad who care about and support the world heritage nominations!

The inscription of the nomination "Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China" on the World Heritage List has added a shining jewel to the World Heritage family and reflected the important contribution and profound significance of the Chinese nation’s long-standing marine civilization to the development of human civilization. During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, Quanzhou, with its inclusive cultural attitude, complete maritime trade system, huge water and land transportation system,  developed handicraft industry, and outstanding navigation and shipbuilding technology, has become a diverse and prosperous world-class port in the traditional Chinese agricultural civilization. With maritime routes reaching various countries and merchants gathering in Quanzhou, it has thus grown into an outstanding model of the world's marine trade center port and an important hub city on the ancient Maritime Silk Road. The success of this nomination will surely further enhance the visibility, reputation, and influence of Fujian and Quanzhou, and add new impetus to the development of Fujian as a culturally strong province and all-around high-quality development and beyond.

In 2001, Comrade Xi Jinping, who later became the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, personally studied and guided the World Heritage nomination of Quanzhou during his work in Fujian. The successful inscription of Quanzhou on the World Heritage List is the result of the strong leadership and kind care of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the result of adhering to a series of important ideas and major practices on the protection and inheritance and utilization of cultural heritage made by General Secretary Xi Jinping during his tenure in Fujian, and the result of the careful guidance and strong support of the National Commission of UNESCO of China, the National Cultural Heritage Administration and other relevant departments. We will further implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important remarks on cultural heritage protection and utilization, cultural construction and exchange and mutual appreciation of civilizations, and take this successful inscription as an opportunity to conscientiously implement the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and the Law of the Peoples Republic of China on Protection of Cultural Relics. By protecting the authenticity and integrity of World Heritage from high standing, with high standards in all respects, we can tell the stories of Chinese maritime civilization to the world, better promote the exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and other civilizations, and advance the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Dated July 25, 2021

The CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and Fujian Provincial People's Government