On June 23rd, the event celebrating the 10th anniversary of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape was held with both online and offline participation. Chen Jining, Mayor of Beijing, delivered a speech via video link.
Chen Jining said that the Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape had provided important guidance for protecting historic urban landscape and achieving sustainable development since its release ten years ago. Beijing is a city with a long history and rich heritage. The unique characteristics of ancient Chinese architecture, together with long-standing cultural attributes embedded in residents' lives, constitute a distinctive historic urban landscape. In light of sustainable development, we are committed to protecting the integrity of the historic urban landscape by extending the coverage of historic cultural city conservation to the entire city through legal means, thus carrying forward the city's fine culture in the process of development. In light of the people-centered development philosophy, we are committed to creating convenience and building a livable environment for our people. We integrate the protection of historic urban landscape with its science-based utilization, carry out urban renewal in an orderly manner, and create more public spaces for communities. In light of cultural diversity, we are committed to promoting the symbiosis of urban tradition and modernity, of tangible and intangible culture, so that historic and modern culture can reinforce each other. Beijing will actively carry out international cooperation with UNESCO and cities around the world, and make unremitting efforts to protect, manage, and carry on the common heritage of mankind.
Issued by UNESCO, Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape is an important guiding document on historical human settlements. Governmental officials from famous historical and cultural cities across the globe and senior representatives of international organizations gave keynote speeches at the event, exchanging views on how to make historical and cultural cities more inclusive, livable and sustainable in the future.
(Article by Fan Junsheng)
