The UAE confirms its commitment to strengthening regional cooperation to protect human heritage

ABU DHABI, 10 December / WAM / The UAE, represented by the Ministry of Culture, participated in the work of the second session of the General Assembly of the Asian Cultural Heritage Alliance (ACHA), which was hosted by the city of Chongqing in the People’s Republic of China with wide participation of culture ministers, officials and experts from more than 20 countries.

The UAE delegation was headed by His Excellency Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, who stressed in his speech during the opening session that this international gathering represents a pioneering platform for enhancing regional and global cooperation in the field of preserving common cultural heritage.

His Excellency said that culture is a top priority in the UAE, which invests strongly in creative and heritage industries to be an engine for sustainable development. Our commitment also transcends our geographical borders by supporting major international initiatives to protect human heritage, most notably the “Reviving the Spirit of Mosul” initiative in Iraq, to ​​which the state has contributed more than 50.4 million US dollars in funding, in addition to many global projects that promote dialogue between civilizations and protect common human heritage.

He added that the UAE, as a founding member of the alliance, is committed to working closely with all member states to develop joint programs in the fields of scientific research, restoration, digital documentation, and preservation of tangible and intangible heritage, with a focus on confronting contemporary challenges such as climate change, natural disasters, and conflicts.

The meetings witnessed the discussion of a number of joint international projects, the launch of new financing mechanisms to support heritage preservation initiatives, and the announcement of the desire of new countries to join the Alliance. The city of Chongqing was also approved as the permanent headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Scientific and Technical Committee of the Alliance, which reflects the global trend towards harnessing advanced technology and artificial intelligence in protecting heritage.

Participants stressed the importance of building the capabilities of member states to address the threats facing cultural heritage resulting from natural disasters and armed conflicts, and developing modern legal and technical frameworks to ensure the sustainability of international efforts in this vital field.

The UAE’s participation in the General Assembly of the Cultural Heritage Alliance in Asia is an extension of the pioneering role it has played since the founding of the Alliance in 2023. The country has contributed mainly to crystallizing its institutional framework, and has supported many joint initiatives in the fields of research, restoration, training, and capacity building.

Through its continued presence in such international cultural forums, the UAE also confirms its firm commitment to strengthening Asian and global cooperation to protect cultural heritage.

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