An Laishun

Chairperson, Asia-Pacific Regional Alliance of International Council of Museums, professor of Heritage Management and Museum Studies, Shanghai University

Why do people preserve cultural heritage? Cultural heritage is the creation of our ancestors, the properties we cherish, the environment in which we live, the wealth that we pass on to future generations. It is a cultural treasure left over from history, the stack of time and culture and a source of inspiration for new creativity.

The social value of cultural heritage has broad connotations. During international contact, the promotion of intercultural and interstate dialogue and peace-building through the conservation and use of world heritage is a manifestation of the social value of cultural heritage. At the same time, the contribution to sustainable cultural development is likewise a reflection of the social value of heritage, and at this level, social value is in a certain sense a contemporary, and a realistic value.

As an important part of people-to-people diplomacy, collaboration in the areas of cultural heritage and museums can serve as an efficient method of improving mutual respect and understanding between different countries, nationalities and cultures, and will play an even greater role in the global exchange between cultures.