Over 300 guests take part in Liangzhu Forum in Hangzhou

The 3rd Liangzhu Forum opened in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, on Saturday.

The Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Peng Qinghua, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. He pointed out that China is willing to work with the international community to implement the Global Civilization Initiative, strengthen policy coordination, scientific research, and academic exchanges in the field of cultural heritage protection.

"Through the platform of the Liangzhu Forum, we can let everyone know that 5,000 years ago, there were such rich and integrated cultures on the vast land of China," said Wang Ningyuan, the lead archaeologist of the Liangzhu Ancient City and its water conservancy system project.

Under the theme "Revitalization of Civilization: Cultural Heritage and Human Cultural Diversity", the forum has brought together more than 300 participants, including foreign guests from over 60 countries and regions. Among them are leaders of cultural heritage protection and management institutions, museum directors, archaeologists, and historians.

Wang said, "Through exchanges at the forum, international archaeologists can more clearly understand the characteristics of Chinese civilization, as well as make comparisons with other major civilizations around the world, achieving a beauty of harmony and appreciating each other's beauty."

From Oct 18 to 20, participants will engage in in-depth discussions and share best practices on world cultural heritage protection throughout the event. Four thematic sub-forums focusing on topics such as cultural roots, innovation in practice, sustained legacy, and future vision will also be held.

In addition to the discussions, a range of cultural activities will be held during the forum, including a Liangzhu cultural and creative products market and the Light of Liangzhu concert featuring joint performances by Chinese and US symphony orchestras.