The World Canal Cities Forum 2022, which opened in Yangzhou City of Jiangsu Province on June 27, has released the Yangzhou Initiative on the heritage protection and sustainable development.

The initiative was formed after representatives from the world's canal cities, international organizations, embassies in China, government departments, universities and research institutions held in-depth discussions and reached a broad consensus in the forum.

The initiative includes four points:

First, to strengthen the overall planning and promote the sustainable development of canal cities in a comprehensive way. In line with a systemic thinking, it’s important to integrate the heritage protection with environmental protection, conservation of famous cities and towns along the canal, development of culture and tourism, and transition of canal’s role in cargo transportation. Active efforts should be made to promote the coordinated economic and social development of cities along the canal and build the waterway into a dynamic cultural belt, an ecological belt and a popular tourist attraction.

Second, to uphold the principle of joint contribution and shared benefits in improving people’s wellbeing in canal cities. In line with the people-centered development philosophy, it’s important to make scientific planning of the culture and tourism development, improve the public services, strengthen the environmental and ecological protection along the canal, and advance the industrial transformation and upgrading in canal cities. Active efforts will be made to implement the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focus on achieving the country’s goal of peaking its carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality, improve people's livelihood and living environment, advocate a green and low-carbon lifestyle, and enhance the people’s happiness in canal cities.

Third, to pursue innovation and establish a sound system for the heritage protection and development. With the priority given to protection, it’s important to maintain the authenticity, integrity, functional continuity and cultural identity of historical heritage, and start getting more canal sites recognized by the UNESCO in due course. Active efforts are needed to carry out cross-disciplinary and cross-city research on the canal, support innovation in the heritage protection and development, strengthen the communication, and employ digital and Internet technologies for people to better experience the heritage and pass on to future generations.

Fourth, to enhance win-win cooperation and exchanges among canal cities in the world. With the canal as the medium and canal cities as players, it’s important to promote people-to-people exchanges and economic and trade cooperation among the world’s canal cities, improve international cooperation in heritage protection, development of culture and tourism, pollution prevention and control and energy conservation, and join forces to create a better future for the world's canal cities.

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