The 2018 Workshop on Preservation and Promotion of Cultural Heritage in Countries along the Lancang-Mekong River opened in Jinghong city, Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province, on Dec 13.

More than 60 scholars and officials from six countries, including China, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam gathered at the event to discuss the best methods and practices of preserving cultural heritage. 

The event, sponsored by Yunnan Department of Culture and Tourism, the government of Xishuangbanna and Yunnan University (YNU), was held by Yunnan Metropolitan Construction Investment Co. 

Yang Lin, Party secretary of YNU, presided over the opening ceremony and spoke about his hopes that all sides would team up to promote the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage along the Lancang-Mekong River. 

Zhao Jiaxin, vice-governor of the government of Xishuangbanna; He Ligui, director of the Yunnan Department of Culture and Tourism, and Hu Bing, deputy director-general of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. 

During the keynote speech session chaired by Li Yan, dean of the Institute for Cultural Development of YNU, the institute’s vice-deans Lin Yi and Hu Hongbin, as well as lecturers Su Junjie, Wang Qingxin, Ge Lishan and Geng Da shared their most recent finds. 

As the ties between the Lancang-Mekong countries develop, the workshop will soon start to include countries along the Belt and Road.