China's top cultural heritage official signed a memorandum with
the American Planning Association (APA) in San Francisco on Monday
on cooperation in historical preservation in city planning.
Shan Jixiang, director-general of the State Administration of
Cultural Heritage (SACH), said that China is eager to gain partners
in the preservation of its culture and history.
The two organizations will exchange information on cultural
conservation and heritage preservation in city planning in China
and the United States. They will also work together in research and
demonstration programs to further the principles of historical and
cultural conservation and explore their application at the
regional, national and local levels.
Educational and professional training exchanges at all levels
are also part of the agreement.
Shan said he is confident that cooperative ventures such as the
one with APA will promote the integration of historical
preservation and urban planning in China.
The APA is a nonprofit public interest and research organization
that works in the field of urban, suburban, regional and rural
planning. For more than 25 years it has worked with central and
local governments in China to help cities conduct long- and
short-term strategic development analyses and develop
implementation plans and management systems.
(Xinhua News Agency, China.org.cn March 23, 2005)