BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for more efforts to preserve the country’s cultural and natural treasures and restore their glamor in a new era.
Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the announcement in a directive to strengthen the protection.
The teaching comes after one cultural heritage site and two natural heritage sites of China were inscribed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List in July 2024.
UNESCO announced the inscription of the Beijing Central Axis: Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital, the Badain Jaran Desert – Towers of Sand and Lakes and Migratory Bird Sanctuary along the Yellow Sea Coast-Bohai Bay in China (Phase II) on its list at the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in New Delhi, India.
The inclusion of these heritage items has a positive meaning in building China’s modernization, which is characterized by material and cultural-ethical progress and harmony between humanity and nature, Xi said, adding that it also adds new luster to world civilizations.
He also called for the strengthening of international exchange and cooperation in this field and efforts to contribute more to the practice of the Global Civilization Initiative and building a community with a common future for mankind.
Currently, China is home to a total of 59 World Heritage Sites.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni here on Monday.
Noting that China and Italy are at the two ends of the ancient Silk Road, Xi said the proven friendly exchanges between the two countries have made great contributions to the overall exchange and mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations and the progress of mankind.
He said that amid accelerating global changes not seen in a century, countries will either move forward together through connectivity and unity, or retreat separately through closure and division. China and Italy should promote and promote the spirit of the Silk Road, view and develop bilateral relations from the historical dimension, strategic height and long-term perspective, and promote their relations to be stable and far-reaching.
Si said that the healthy and stable development of Sino-Italian relations is in line with the common interests of the two countries and their peoples. Despite the ongoing profound changes in the international scene, China’s commitment to appreciating and developing relations with Italy has not changed, nor has the nature of the mutually beneficial cooperation of China-Italy relations, and the friendship between the two nations. he added.
Xi called on the two sides to continue the tradition of friendly exchanges and continue to understand and respect each other’s development paths. Noting that China and Italy have complementary industrial advantages and opportunities for each other, Si said the two sides should adhere to mutual openness and cooperation.
The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has just ended, and China will continue to promote opening-up at a high level, bringing strong impetus to China’s modernization and bringing new opportunities to expand cooperation with Italy and other countries. added.
Xi said China is willing to work with Italy to optimize and upgrade traditional cooperation in trade and investment, manufacturing, technological innovation and other fields, and explore cooperation in emerging fields such as electric vehicles and artificial intelligence.
He noted that China welcomes the investment of Italian companies in China and is willing to import more quality products from Italy.
Both sides should cherish the achievements of cultural exchange and mutual learning, promote cultural heritage and innovation, and strengthen the friendship between the two nations, he said.
Xi said China supports Italy in hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics and hopes Italy will provide favorable visa arrangements for Chinese citizens traveling to Italy.
Xi emphasized that in a world of economic globalization, win-win development can only be achieved by promoting openness and cooperation in global industrial and supply chains.
We hope that Italy understands and supports China’s concept of development and plays a constructive role in promoting China-Europe dialogue and cooperation and actively promoting the positive and stable development of China-EU relations, Xi said.
Meloni said that as countries with ancient civilizations, Italy and China have always appreciated and learned from each other. The current international situation is undergoing profound changes, and China – as an important major country – plays an irreplaceable role in solving global challenges.
Italy attaches great importance to China’s international position and role, and is willing to continue the proven spirit of the Silk Road, promote a closer and higher-level partnership with China, and open a new chapter in the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. and contribute anew to world peace and progress, she said.
Meloni said that Italy adheres to the one-China policy and hopes to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with China, utilize the potential for cooperation, deepen bilateral cooperation in such areas as trade, investment, electric vehicles and artificial intelligence, and strengthen people-to-people exchanges. and encourage more Italian products to enter the Chinese market.
Italy opposes decoupling and protectionism and is willing to play a positive role in further deepening and strengthening EU-China relations, Meloni said.
