ACHA General Assembly in Chongqing Advances Cultural Heritage Protection

Chongqing - On November 27th, the Second General Assembly and Third Council Meeting of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia (ACHA) convened in Chongqing, bringing together representatives from 33 countries and international organizations to discuss the future of cultural heritage conservation across Asia.

ACHA, initiated by China, is the first and currently the only intergovernmental organization in the field of cultural heritage within the Asian region. With 24 member states, partner states, and observers, its influence now extends to Africa, Europe, Latin America, and Oceania. Under its framework, cooperation in talent development, conservation and restoration, academic exchange, exhibitions, and joint archaeological research has continued to flourish.

This year's Assembly marks a new milestone in the Alliance's development. During the meeting, China and ACHA signed the Host Country Agreement, granting the Alliance legal status and diplomatic privileges required to operate independently in China. 

China and Egypt also signed a Joint Statement on the Asian Initiative for Cultural Heritage Conservation and an agreement to deepen cooperation in the nomination, management, and protection of World Cultural Heritage.

The Assembly announced the establishment of the ACHA Austronesian and Maritime Civilization Committee and the ACHA Scientific and Technological Committee. It also released 15 ACHA Fund-supported projects for 2024–2025 involving countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, and the United Arab Emirates, along with the Alliance's Vision and Mission and the ACHA Chongqing Consensus.

Adam Naseer Ibrahim, Minister of Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage of the Republic of Maldives, praised the growing influence of the Alliance. He noted that, "despite its young age, ACHA has already proven to be an important framework for cultural heritage preservation as well as a platform for dialogue and cooperation. I'm confident that this marks an important milestone, opening pathways for meaningful technical and professional cooperation between ACHA members and advancing collaboration in the modern cultural heritage sector."

Seyed Reza Salehi Amiri, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of Iran, emphasized that collaboration and the exchange of expertise "play a vital role in promoting and safeguarding cultural heritage."

Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Antiquities of Egypt, noted that cultural heritage conservation is a shared responsibility of all humanity. The new agreements with China, he said, will advance cooperation in World Heritage nomination dossiers, conservation and restoration, site management, documentation, capacity-building, and risk management.

Despoina Zernioti, Director of the Corfu Museum of Asian Art of the Republic of Greece stated that Greece's accession to ACHA as a partner country further strengthens ties among Greece, China, and Asian nations, reflecting shared values in heritage preservation and cultural understanding.

More than 20 countries endorsed the Chongqing Consensus, recognizing ACHA as a vital regional platform that brings together the knowledge and strengths of participating nations to promote a more harmonious, prosperous, and sustainable Asian community of shared future. Delegates agreed that deepening regional cooperation and protecting Asia's cultural heritage will contribute meaningfully to cultural exchange and mutual learning among civilizations.

The meeting also featured a vibrant display of intangible cultural heritage, including Jingdezhen ceramics, Shu embroidery, Three Gorges embroidery, and Youzhou Miao embroidery. 

Jingdezhen ceramic artist Sun Lixin presented a specially crafted porcelain plate for the conference, noting that "using china to tell the story of China" reflects both the depth of Chinese culture and the shared responsibility to safeguard and pass on cultural heritage.