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Mankind’s common responsibility to protect world heritage sites: Chinese spokesman

China

Mankind’s common responsibility to protect world heritage sites: Chinese spokesman
China

China

Mankind’s common responsibility to protect world heritage sites: Chinese spokesman

2024-07-29 22:24 Last Updated At:07-30 02:07

World heritage sites are mankind's common wealth making it mankind's shared responsibility to protect and preserve them, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian said on Monday.

At the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, the Beijing Central Axis, the Badain Jaran Desert’s Towers of Sand and Lakes, and the migratory bird sanctuaries along the coast of the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Gulf of China (Phase II) all passed the review process to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Lin extended the ministry’s congratulations to the successful applications for world heritage status for these three sites.

"We would like to extend our warmest congratulations on the successful application for World Heritage to 'Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital', 'Badain Jaran Desert - Towers of Sand and Lakes', and 'Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase II)'. The total number of World Heritage sites in China has risen to 59, ranking second in the world. Among those, there are 15 World Natural Heritages and four World Cultural and Natural Heritages, with the number of World Natural Heritage being the highest worldwide," said Lin.

He underlined the efforts that China has put in to protecting and preserving cultural and natural heritage for future generations.

"The successful application for World Heritage is attributed to the unremitting efforts of the Chinese government and people in protecting and preserving cultural heritages, preserving ecological environments, and building a beautiful China. The Chinese government has carried out more than 100 cultural relic protection projects to revitalize the Beijing Central Axis, the longest urban axis in the world, and to integrate the hustle and bustle of the old city with a modern lifestyle. Adhering to the principle that 'lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets', we have stepped up efforts to protect ecological diversity and improve environmental governance, so that the geological and geomorphologic features of the Badain Jaran Desert - Towers of Sand and Lakes have been conserved, and the habitats of migratory birds along the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf can provide indispensable breeding, resting and wintering grounds for tens of millions of migrating water birds," Lin noted.

He emphasized that protecting and preserving world heritages is a responsibility shared by all.

"World Heritage is a common wealth of mankind, and protecting and passing on world heritage is a shared responsibility of mankind. China will continue to uphold the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, work with the international community to actively implement the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, share China's successful experience, strengthen cooperation on World Heritage protection, and continue to contribute Chinese wisdom and strength in global ecological conservation, as well as exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations," Lin said.

Mankind’s common responsibility to protect world heritage sites: Chinese spokesman

Mankind’s common responsibility to protect world heritage sites: Chinese spokesman

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Panamanian residents dismiss Trump's claims of retaking Panama Canal

2025-01-22 01:19 Last Updated At:02:17

People in Panama City have firmly dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to retake the Panama Canal, calling his claims "nonsense" and saying such a move even risks world peace.

After his presidential election win in November, Trump has made a series of expansionist remarks, including stating his plans to make Canada a U.S. state, rename the Gulf of Mexico, and gain control of the Panama Canal and Greenland.

Last month, Trump accused Panama of treating the U.S. in a "very unfair and injudicious way," and has refused to rule out using military means or taking economic action in his pursuit of the Panama Canal.

At the start of this year, Panama celebrated the 25th anniversary of the handover of the canal, which had been under the control of the United States for nearly a century until the end of 1999.

During his inauguration speech shortly after taking the oath of office on Monday, Trump claimed Panama had 'violated' the treaty and said the U.S. would be "taking it back." In response, Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino rejected Trump's position and said there is no presence of any nation in the world that interferes with the administration of Panama.

Many residents in Panama see the canal as a symbol of national pride and consider it a crucial driver of the country's economy.

Milena Marin, a local resident, criticized Trump's remarks and called on countries across Central America to stand together to protect their own interests from U.S. infringement.

"First of all, the Panama Canal belongs to the Panamanians, and we are doing an excellent job managing it. Since we took over its administration, we have been doing very well. Those (Trump's statements) are words of attack. We have to take care of our canal. It has a negative impact since [Trump's remarks] affect both the environment for us Panamanians but also the image of the country. We have been doing a great job with the management of the canal. These statements definitely affect world peace. They bring such negativity around Panama. [We need] more meetings and dialogue with Central American countries, because the more united we are, the stronger and less vulnerable we will be. And I think that the union between the countries of Central America could be a great solution," said Marin.

Meanwhile, Luis Gomez, a local photographer, said Trump's statements are lacking in reason, and said the issue should be resolved peacefully, citing the huge military disparities between the two sides.

"The president's statements do not make sense and seem a bit illogical, since Panama is such a small country that we don't even have a [traditional] military. We have no chance of being able to confront [the U.S.] because they are a powerful country. We cannot compare ourselves to a country of such size. The impact would be overwhelming for us. The canal is important not only for Panama but also for the whole world because it allows ships and goods from all over the world to pass through smoothly," said Gomez.

The Panama Canal, which started operation in 1914, serves as an important international waterway that links the Pacific and the Atlantic. It was taken over by the Panamanian government in 1999 following the terms set out in the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, which were signed back in 1977 by Panama's General Omar Torrijos and then U.S. President Jimmy Carter, ending 85 years of the colonial enclave known as the Panama Canal Zone.

Panamanian residents dismiss Trump's claims of retaking Panama Canal

Panamanian residents dismiss Trump's claims of retaking Panama Canal

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