2017年CRI 'Belt and Road' playing a role in world heritage preservation: UNESCO head

 

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova speaks to China Radio International recently in Paris. [Photo: China Plus]

As preparation gets underway for next month's "Belt and Road" summit in Beijing, the head of UNESCO took some time to speak to China Radio International about what the "Belt and Road" initiative means for her organization and world heritage preservation¹.

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova said beyond promoting economics and trade, the "Belt and Road" initiative is also helping² to increase cultural ties among the countries along its routes.

"I believe nowadays we need more such initiatives, in order to see how we trade, with investment, with economic ties. We see also intercultural dialogue being developed, and I believe this is an important initiative that the UNESCO commends and supports," said Bokova.

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the "Belt and Road" initiative in 2013, with the main aim to promote infrastructure³ building, economic and social development along the ancient Silk Road and its maritime⁴ trading routes.

Bokova said currently cooperation deals have been signed among 40 countries under the initiative, while applauding the timeliness of the messages carried by the strategy in today's world.

"This is a message about exchange. This is a message about diversity. This is a message about intercultural dialogue. This is a message about prosperity and development. It is very relevant today because unfortunately, we see also extremism; we see destruction; we see a different vision of the world," added Bokova.

The UNESCO head said destruction of ancient cultural heritage sites in war-torn Iraq and Syria by extremist groups have been propelled by this "different" vision of the world, and that only promoting diversity and intercultural understanding can help prevent the further spread of extremist views.

In March, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution condemning⁵ the illegal destruction of heritage sites by extremist groups, warning that such acts could constitute war crimes.

Bokova said the "Belt and Road" initiative also fits in well with the drive by the Security Council to protect and preserve cultural relics⁶ in various parts of the world.

"I would like to thank once again, China, for supporting a major resolution of the Security Council on the protection of cultural heritage and diversity for international peace and security. I think it was a landmark⁷ decision of the Security Council, where we put on the global political agenda the importance of heritage, dialogue, intercultural dialogue and diversity. And this is also where China, with the project of 'Belt and Road,' plays such an important role," remarked Bokova.

Bokova said UNESCO will be represented at the "Belt and Road" forum⁸ in Beijing next month and will be ready to share a similar message of peace and prosperity.

"We cannot have only trade and economic investment without having an understanding and intercultural dialogue. I think this is the main meaning of President Xi Jinping's message here at UNESCO when he came a few years ago with his major, historic speech about the Silk Road, about the intercultural dialogue, about links, trade and prosperity. So this will be my message – we have to create societies, so that they are at peace with themselves, understanding others and having this intercultural competency," said Bokova.

UNESCO will be among dozens of international organizations which will have representation at next month's "Belt and Road" summit in Beijing.

1 preservation   

n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持

参考例句：

• The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。
• The picture is in an excellent state of preservation.这幅画保存得极为完好。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

4 maritime   

adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的

参考例句：

• Many maritime people are fishermen.许多居于海滨的人是渔夫。
• The temperature change in winter is less in maritime areas.冬季沿海的温差较小。

5 condemning   

v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地

参考例句：

• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。
• I concur with the speaker in condemning what has been done. 我同意发言者对所做的事加以谴责。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

6 relics   

[pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸

参考例句：

• The area is a treasure house of archaeological relics. 这个地区是古文物遗迹的宝库。
• Xi'an is an ancient city full of treasures and saintly relics. 西安是一个有很多宝藏和神圣的遗物的古老城市。

7 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

8 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。