The 2023 World Canal Cities Forum, co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Jiangsu Provincial People's Government, will open in Yangzhou City on August 24, according to a press conference in Nanjing on August 21.

More than 600 people are expected to attend the forum, including diplomats from countries with well-known canal cities, representatives of international organizations and research institutions.

Launched in 2007, the forum aims to strengthen communication and cooperation among cities, organizations, experts and scholars associated with canals. The forum this year, which is now at 16th edition, will feature the theme of "Heritage Protection and Green Low-carbon Development."

View of the China Grand Canal Museum (CFP Photo)

The forum will showcase both domestic and foreign practices concerning the sustainable and green development of canals. It will promote the exchange, mutual learning and cooperation while advancing China's construction of the Grand Canal Cultural Belt and the National Cultural Park.

The event will include an opening ceremony and keynote speeches in the morning, followed by three sub-forums in the afternoon, focusing on the protection of cultural heritage, environment protection and integrated development of culture and tourism in canal cities.

In addition, the forum will hold a signing ceremony for the cultural and tourism projects, provide cultural and artistic performances on the theme of the Grand Canal, and organize visits to the China Grand Canal Museum in Yangzhou.