Protecting Cultural Relics to Consolidate the Humanistic Foundation of Building a Community of Shared Future for Asia and Mankind

Chai Xiaoming

      Relics are important carriers of culture and civilization. Cultural relics protection, research and cooperation are important bridges for exchanges of civilizations and mutual learning, with a unique and irreplaceable role. President Xi Jinping pointed out that "civilizations communicate because of diversity, learn from each other through exchanges, and develop because of mutual learning. We should strengthen exchanges and mutual learning among different countries, nationalities and cultures in the world, and consolidate the humanistic foundation of building a community of Asian shared future and a Community of Shared Future for Mankind.” Cultural relics exhibition, as a form of civilization exchanges and mutual learning, won best recognition by the public. In fact, in addition to cultural relics exhibitions, international cooperation in the conservation and restoration of cultural relics and archaeology are also a very important form of civilized exchange and mutual learning. As one of the main organs to undertake international cooperation in the protection and restoration of Chinese cultural relics, since the 1990s, under the direct leadership of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage has implemented and participated in overseas cultural relics conservation and restoration projects, including Angkor Wat, Preah Vihear, Kathmandu in Nepal, Khwarazm of Uzbekistan, Colombal Ancient Pagoda in Mongolia and Pugan in Myanmar.

      The earliest international cooperation project on cultural relics protection in China was the protection and restoration of Chau Say Tevoda in Cambodia, which was launched in 1997. In that year, the National Cultural Heritage Administration appointed the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage (formerly the Institute of Chinese Cultural Heritage) to undertake the protection and restoration of Chau Say Tevoda in Cambodia, and set up the "Chinese Government Assistance Task Force for the Protection of Angkor Monuments in Cambodia". The Ministry of Finance allocated 10 million yuan (an additional 4.5 million yuan in 2002) to implement the project. Before the restoration of Chau Say Tevoda, it collapsed on a large scale and was seriously damaged. The team carried out detailed investigation, mapping, research on archaeology, conservation and restoration technology, materials on Chau Say Tevoda. On this basis, the protection project was carried out, and the effect is excellent. It is about four or five years since our project has progressed, a person in charge of bridge repairs in Cambodia was puzzled that our small project attracted the Cambodian leaders. In his view, whether in terms of project capital quota or construction period, the cultural relics protection project could not rival the road and bridge construction project under his responsibility, but it is puzzling that Cambodia attaches great importance to it. When Norodom Sihanouk met with the Working Group of Experts on Chinese Cultural Relics, he once said something that exerted enormous influence, we told him what Norodom Sihanouk said, he then understood it. Norodom Sihanouk noted that Angkor is the most precious cultural heritage of the Cambodian people, Angkor, if repaired, will capture the heart of the Cambodian people. This shows that although the scale and funds of the international cooperation projects for the protection of cultural relics are limited, their influence could not be rivalled by the general projects. With history and culture as the object, academic research and technology as the point of penetration, heritage conservation projects can reach the hearts of the people directly, and enhance the understanding and mutual trust between the partners from the most fundamental and basic places. It is for this reason that after the completion of the Chau Say Tevoda Project, we resolutely undertook the project of protecting and restoring the Ta keo, an ancient site in Angkor, Cambodia. The project scale is obviously larger than the Chau Say Tevoda. After more than ten years of efforts, it was successfully completed by the end of 2018. During the implementation period, according to the opinions of the administrative departments in charge of the two countries, we began the selection of the next phase of the project, the Palace Site in the core area of Angkor Monuments, which was officially launched this year. After 20 years of work, we have progressed from a timid participant in the International Aid of Cambodia's Angkor Monument Conservation Initiative to an important force in the Angkor Monument Conservation International Initiative. In 2014, China and India were nominated as chairmen of the UNESCO International Coordinating Committee for the Protection of Preah Vihear Temple, and began to coordinate and organize relevant countries to jointly carry out the protection and restoration of Preah Vihear Temple. In addition, the Ta keo site is known as the most active, lively site in the preservation of Angkor monuments. At the same time, it has become an important place for Cambodia's diplomatic activities –a group of leaders of the China including Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping have visited the site accompanied by Cambodian leaders.

Launching Ceremony of the Chau Say Tevoda Project in Angkor Wat, Cambodia


Restoration of the Chau Say Tevoda in Angkor Wat, Cambodia


Repair work of the Chau Say Tevoda in Angkor Wat, Cambodia is completed


Cambodia Angkor Wat Ta keo Hill 


Cambodia Angkor Wat Ta keo Restoration Site


One of the Research Achievements of Ta keo in Angkor Wat, Cambodia——Restoration Map


Archaeological Excavation of Ta keo in Angkor Wat, Cambodia


Preah Vihear Temple, Cambodia


Speech by Chinese Team Representatives at ICC Conference of Preah Vihear Temple


Part of the Royal Palace Site at Angkor Wat, Cambodia