On July 28, 2021, the themed side event titled “The Echo of World Heritage Leadership – From Fuzhou to Kazan” as a part of the extended 44th session of the World Heritage Committee was held in Fuzhou both online and offline. His Excellency Mr. Tian Xuejun, Vice Minister of Education, Chairperson of the National Commission of the People's Republic of China for UNESCO, and Chairperson of the extended 44th session of World Heritage Committee, Mr. Zheng Jianmin, Vice Governor of Fujian Province, and Professor Shahbaz Khan, UNESCO Representative to the People’s Republic of China, attended the event and delivered speeches. Dr. Mechtild Rössler, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and others attended the meeting.

Mr. Tian Xuejun emphasized that to well protect, inherit and make good use of the world's cultural and natural heritage is our shared responsibility and is of vital importance to the continuity of human civilization and the sustainable development of the world. In this regard, the convening places for the sessions of the World Heritage Committee should play a unique leading role, especially in terms of demonstration, inspiration, and coordination. Mr. Tian Xuejun pointed out that the Fuzhou Declaration, named after the host city and adopted at this session embodies the common aspiration and actions of the member states and is also the spiritual wealth that Fuzhou has left to the cause of world heritage.

Mr. Zheng Jianmin said that Fujian is earnestly implementing the guidelines of the congratulatory letter sent from Chinese President Xi Jinping to the extended 44th session of the World Heritage Committee, further deepening its commitment to the exchanges and cooperation with countries around the world, making every effort to promote advanced concepts of world heritage protection, and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. This side event is conducive to promoting China-Russia cultural exchanges and cooperation, enhancing the friendship between the two peoples, and will actively promote the development of global world heritage. The side event also provides a good opportunity for Fujian to learn from the world heritage protection and utilization experiences of other countries in the world.

Professor Shahbaz Khan highly praised the positive contributions made by Fujian Province and Fuzhou in successfully hosting this session of the World Heritage Committee and promoting exchanges between countries and the development of the world heritage undertaking.

This side event was co-sponsored by the Fujian Provincial People’s Government, the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the ICCROM-IUCN World Heritage Leadership Programme team. According to sources, the ICCROM-IUCN World Heritage Leadership Programme (2016-2022) is a world heritage capacity-building programme jointly promoted by ICCROM and IUCN. This side event aims to respond to the spread and positive effects of world heritage concepts, methods, and experiences through the protection and management practices of world heritage projects in Fujian, Fuzhou, China, and Kazan, Russia, and to further explore how to bring into full play the leading role of the world heritage projects in a more extensive way. (Reporter You Xiaochun)