The International Conference 2016"Present Situation and Challenges Regarding Human Resource Development forCultural Heritage Protection in the Asia-Pacific Region" was successfullyheld from 13 to 15 December 2016 in Nara, Japan. This conference is joinlyorganised by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan; Asia-Pacific CulturalCenter for UNESCO etc in co-operation with the International Center for theStudy of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property(ICCROM) etc;

The Asia-Pacific Cultural Center forUNESCO established the Cultural Heritage Protection Cooperation Office (ACCUNara Office) in 1999 in Nara, an ancient capital of Japan. ACCU Nara Office hasimplemented various training programmes to contribute to the development ofhuman resources for cultural heritage protection in the Asia-Pacific region. Asof 2015, more than 445 experts from 37 countries in the Asia-Pacific regionhave participated in the programmes.

Many of them play an active leadershiprole in cultural heritage protection in their respective countries.Accordingly, these representatives were invited to attend the 2016international conference in order to share information on the present situationand challenges faced regarding human resource development in related countries. Theaim of the conference is to summarise future issues regarding human resourcesdevelopment in the region and exchange opinions on how to organise future ACCUcultural heritage protection cooperation programmes. In addition, it providedan opportunity to enrich the networks developed through ACCU trainingprogrammes.

 Ms.Lu Wei, Executive Deputy Directorof Whitrap attended the conference as discussant. Whitrap started cooperationprogrammes with ACCU since 2010.