China, ASEAN on intangible cultural heritage protection

The protection of intangible cultural heritage will be discussed at the 2013 China-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Cultural Forum next month, officials said Thursday.

Commenting on the forum to be held in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Wang Fuzhou, an official at the Ministry of Culture, said "We look forward to more cooperation with ASEAN countries in the joint declaration and protection of intangible cultural heritage."

The three-day-forum, jointly hosted by the ministry and the Guangxi government, is themed "Dialogue and Cooperation: Protection and Inheritance of Intangible Cultural Heritage."

Li Minsheng, committee member of the forum, also deputy head of the culture department of Guangxi, said the event will share past experiences to help deepen communication and cooperation between China and ASEAN in cultural exchanges.

UNESCO officials, representatives from China and ASEAN countries' culture departments and organizations have been invited to attend the event.

Cooperation with neighboring countries that share intangible cultural heritage has become an important aspect of China's heritage protection.

The forum will be held from Sept. 10 to 12.