Sino Italian heritage learning not only boosts cooperation but provides a broad avenue for cultural interchange.
The ongoing collaboration between Italy and China in preserving and promoting world cultural heritages strengthens mutual understanding and fosters learning between civilizations, as noted by several Italian professionals in recent Xinhua interviews.
Italy and China boast the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Heleni Porfyriou, a former senior researcher at the Institute for Heritage Science of the Italian National Research Council, highlighted that the abundance of heritage sites in both nations sets the stage for cooperation, with many sites sharing historical significance, architectural styles, or cultural landscapes.
“When heritage sites with similar features are brought together, it fosters a deeper appreciation of each other’s history and culture,” Porfyriou stated. “Tourism and digital platforms enable audiences to learn about global wisdom from the same historical periods, facilitating exchanges across continents.”
Roberto Ciarla, an archaeologist with the International Association for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies in Italy, remarked that the cooperation between Chinese and Italian World Heritage Sites benefits global visitors by showcasing ancient civilizations and offers valuable learning opportunities for management and research staff.
Ciarla anticipates regular, focused exchanges between the two countries on themes related to World Heritage Sites conservation and promotion. “Learning from each other’s ideas and experiences is crucial for better preservation of cultural heritages,” he said.
At the 2024 World Heritage Convention, Beijing’s Central Axis in China and Italy’s Roman Appian Road are both under review. Porfyriou, who has participated in cooperative research on the Roman Appian Road and China’s Grand Canal, noted that Italy has gained valuable insights from China’s Grand Canal heritage application process.
China has also published a book on Italian cultural heritage legislation and protection. “This is a positive example of Sino-Italian heritage cooperation, where both countries benefit by understanding each other’s policies and practices,” said Porfyriou.
Some famous World Heritage Sites in China face pressures from overdevelopment. Ciarla suggested shifting focus from the most popular sites to other areas. Collaborating with countries like Italy could help showcase the diversity of Chinese civilization to the world.
Many lesser-known heritage sites in China, such as Fujian’s Tulou, remain relatively unknown globally, according to Porfyriou. “We look forward to more cooperation between China and Italy in heritage sites, especially to support and appreciate lesser-known places representing Chinese culture,” she said.
Sino Italian heritage learning has provided more avenues to cultural experts from both sides to explore more avenues for cooperation.
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