On April 10, 2026, in preparation for the upcoming UNESCO renewal evaluation of WHITR-AP, Professor SHAO Yong, Secretary-General of WHITR-AP, and Dr. LI Xin, Deputy Secretary-General of WHITR-AP, visited two UNESCO Category 2 Centres based in Beijing:  the International Research and Training Center for Rural Education (INRULED) and the International Training Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region (CRIHAP). The visits further strengthened cooperative ties with relevant national UNESCO Category 2 Centres and advanced interdisciplinary cooperation in World Heritage, rural education, intangible cultural heritage and beyond.

From left to right: Prof. ZHAO Yuchi, Executive Director of INRULED; Prof. SHAO Yong, Secretary-General of WHITR-AP; Dr. LI Xin, Deputy Secretary-General of WHITR-AP

Prof. ZHAO Yuchi, Executive Director of INRULED, introduced the INRULED’s development strategy, key projects such as the UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education, and its experience with UNESCO evaluation. Both sides then conducted in-depth discussions on potential interdisciplinary cooperation in World Heritage, rural education, and sustainable development of heritage sites. A consensus on cooperation was reached on educational innovation in rural heritage sites, case study sharing, and overseas communication and promotion.

Left: Prof. SHAO Yong, Secretary-General Right: Prof. ZHAO Yuchi, Executive Director of INRULED

During the meeting with CRIHAP, Professor SHAO Yong and Director ZHANG Jing presented their respective development strategies and key projects. Both sides agreed on the need for integrated conservation of World Cultural Heritage and intangible cultural heritage to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. and pledged to further advance interdisciplinary cooperation in the future. They also exchanged views on governance structures and evaluation mechanisms — common concerns among Category 2 Centres — and agreed to further promote cross-sectoral cooperation.

From left to right: Ms. ZHANG Jing, Director of CRIHAP; Prof. SHAO Yong, Secretary-General of WHITR-AP; Dr. LI Xin, Deputy Secretary-General of WHITR-AP

Since hosting the annual meeting of UNESCO Category 2 Centres based in China in 2019, WHITR-AP has maintained close communication and engagement with all the national UNESCO Category 2 Centres. These visits have further consolidated multi-party collaboration. Moving forward, WHITR-AP will continue to support the establishment and development of a cooperation network among UNESCO Category 2 Centres.

Contributed by ｜ LI Xin

Designed by｜DUAN Jinran (Intern)

Web typeset by Zhang Yidan (Intern)

Edited by｜LIU Zhen

Reviewed by｜SHAO Yong