FUZHOU, July 31 (Xinhua) -- The 44th session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO wrapped up on Saturday in Fuzhou, capital of east China's Fujian Province. As an extended session, this is the first time for UNESCO to review World Heritage issues online, at which a total of 34 new sites were inscribed on the World Heritage List.

 The committee members unanimously supported the adoption of the Fuzhou Declaration, which reiterates the principle of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World's Cultural and Natural Heritage and the importance of international cooperation for World Heritage protection. This echoed the session's great concern over the far-reaching impact of climate change on the sustainable development of World Heritage, emphasizing that it is the shared responsibility of all humankind to protect World Heritage. It called for scaling up support to developing countries, especially to African countries and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), to maintain an open, inclusive, adaptive, sustainable, resilient, clean and beautiful world for future generations.

A total of 36 new heritage nominations were reviewed, of which 34 were approved for inscription on the World Heritage List. Among the newly added sites is "Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China" in Fujian, which brings the number of world heritage sites in the country to 56. The Chongqing Wulipo National Nature Reserve officially became part of the Hubei Shennongjia World Heritage Site after a minor modification to Shennongjia's boundaries during the session.

"We are pleased to see the session implemented UNESCO's global strategy of Priority Africa, as two properties from Africa were newly inscribed on the list. Although we can only meet online, we can still share the joy through the screen." Said Tian Xuejun, China’s Vice Minister of Education, and Director of Chinese National Commission for UNESCO and Chairperson of the Extended 44th Session of World Heritage Committee. At this session, the number of newly inscribed World Heritage sites from developed and developing countries was nearly equal. Also, this session saw an increase in the nominations of transboundary or transnational properties and serial properties.

The Committee reviewed over 200 state of conservation reports of world heritage properties, and recognized three properties, namely the Great Wall of China, and Tai National Park and Comoe National Park, both in Cote d'Ivoire, as the model cases of conservation and management. The Committee also fully recognized the achievements and progress made by the Salonga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in eliminating threats of war and illegal poaching, and unanimously agreed to remove it from the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Committee also decided to remove the Liverpool -- Maritime Mercantile City of Britain from the world heritage list. It was the first world heritage site deleted in the past 10 years.

Tian said the session has made significant headway in the reform of application procedures of properties. Starting in September 2023, pre-evaluation will be required to facilitate the communication between the committee and advisory bodies at an early stage of a nomination.

“The cause of world heritage conservation will start a new voyage from Fuzhou. I believe that the consensus reached and the power gathered in this 'Blessed City’ can ensure the smooth sailing of our common cause." Tian Xuejun said.