HIST Convenes the 10th Session of its Governing Board

HIST Governing Board convened its 10th session on January 18, 2024 in Beijing, China. Prof. Guo Huadong, Director of HIST and Academician of Chinese Academy ofSciences(CAS), chaired the meeting. Prof. Liu Weidong, Director-General, Bureau of International Cooperation of CAS, representing Chairmanship of HIST Governing Board, made welcome remarks, highlighting that CAS will continue to support HIST’s future development including HIST’s renewal evaluation.

HIST’s Triennial Work Report for 2021-2023, Biennial Work Plan for 2022-2023, Biennial Work Report for 2024-2025 were discussed and approved by HIST Governing Board. In the past three years,HIST has conducted international research projects in eight Member States such as Greece, Uzbekistan, Congo and organized three international workshops to train more than 400 site managers and technicians from 18 countries. Based on previous researches, it has written and published three books and over 70 academic papers in internationally recognized journals. Meanwhile, it has also established relationships with more than 10 international organizations, in particular, forged strategic partnership with three advisory bodies, as well as over 50 countries. Moreover, it has enhanced academic exchanges by organizing more than 20 seminars and conferences, including 4th Huangshan Dialogue, to attract 500 thousand participants from 20 international organizations and 50 countries. In the coming biennium, HIST will complete its evaluation by UNESCO and the signing of the 3rd phase agreement, formulate a new Mid-term Strategic Plan for 2025-2030 to guide its third phase operation, continue to conduct international research projects in Uzbekistan and strengthen capacity building of site managers to contribute to sustainable development of UNESCO-designated sites.

Board members commended HIST’s excellent achievements in the past three years, expressed its support to HIST’s renewal evaluation and HIST’s future development, and proposed that HIST’s collaboration within UNESCO, other relevant international organizations, UNESCO Member States will be strengthened.

In his concluding remarks, Acad. Prof. Guo Huadong extended sincere thanks to the Board members and all staffs for their valuable contributions and excellent suggestions. He said that as international conservation community attaches greater importance to the use of space information technology for the monitoring, evaluation and conservation of UNESCO-designated sites, HIST will take coordinated actions with UNESCO and three advisory bodies to help UNESCO and its Member Sates to enhance conservation of heritage sites and promote their sustainable development.

HIST’s deputy directors, staff members at HIST secretariat and representatives of research teams joined the meeting as observers.

Group Photo of Participants