SCO nations embrace China's expertise in heritage preservation

Experts at the 2025 SCO Inter-Civilizational Dialogue, held in Tianjin on Wednesday, highlighted China's pioneering role in cultural heritage preservation among Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states.

At the forum, Jia Wei, deputy director of the Beijing Central Axis Cultural Education Special Fund, presented the Chinese capital's Central Axis as a replicable model: "In our protection process, special attention is paid to maintaining original appearances while achieving harmonious coexistence with residents."

Jia detailed ecological considerations, noting how restoration teams "gave full consideration to the habitat of Beijing swifts during repairs, balancing cultural heritage protection with natural conservation".

He emphasized that public engagement remains critical for global recognition: "Public awareness and participation are crucial criteria in World Cultural Heritage evaluation."

Beyond conceptual exchange, practical cooperation is advancing. Wang Jianxin, chief scientist at the Collaborative Research Center for Archaeology of the Silk Roads, shared on-site measures from Central Asian projects.

"Chinese teams conduct temporary protection like building sheds and installing monitoring systems to ensure relic safety during excavations," Wang said.

He stressed the long-term vision for shared heritage, adding: "The Silk Road is humanity's common legacy. Transnational joint World Heritage applications require sustained effort and broader participation."

Educational milestones further demonstrate SCO cultural synergy. Dina Aikenova, advisor to Kazakhstan's Association of Chinese Researchers, marked the second anniversary of Almaty's Luban Workshop — a joint initiative by the Tianjin Vocational Institute and East Kazakhstan Technical University.

"This project promotes China-Kazakhstan vocational education cooperation," Aikenova said, explaining its focus on new energy vehicles through the Engineering Practice Innovation Project.

"It cultivates urgently needed technical talent, earning high recognition from students and institutions," she said.

Jia added: "We look forward to deepening cooperation with SCO partners, learning mutual protection experiences to jointly promote world heritage preservation and dissemination."

Bao Yan contributed to this story.