Sponsored by Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Ningbo Municipal Government, co-organized by Zhejiang Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage, and hosted by the Historical Study Institute, Ningbo Culture, Radio and TV Bureau, Ningbo Museum (also as the Research Center of Chinese Marine Silk Road), the international forum of "Marine Silk Road and the process of world civilization" was held in Ningbo on December 10. The forum was attended by Hang Haotao, Secretary General of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Julien Glana, cultural Commissioner of UNESCO Office in Beijing, Guan Qiang, Director of the World Cultural Heritage Department of Chinese State Administration of Cultural Heritage, Bao Xianlun, Deputy-director of Zhejiang Cultural Department and Director of Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage, Cheng Yuechong, Vice-mayor of Ningbo, Xie Xiangyang, Vice-mayor of Beihai, Gu Shiyang, Vice-secretary General of Guangzhou Municipal Government, Zhao Jing, Vice-mayor of Zhangzhou, Yang Rong, Vice-secretary General of Yangzhou Municipal Government, Sun Yebao, Mayor of Penglai, as well as over 40 exports on the study of Marine Silk Road from home and abroad.
UNESCO has paid special attention to the application of Marine Silk Road for world cultural heritage. The State Administration of Cultural Heritage, actively involved in the negotiation with Mid-Asian countries for the application of the Land Silk Road for world cultural heritage, has also been making great efforts to promote the application of the Marine Silk Road. In 2009, a meeting was held in Yangzhou by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, when Penglai, Yangzhou, Ningbo, Quanzhou and Guangzhou were included in the project of the Marine Silk Road application. This year, the Research Center of Chinese Marine Silk Road was jointly set up in Ningbo Museum by Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Ningbo Municipal Government. Beihai, Guangzhou, Zhangzhou, Quanzhou, Ningbo, Yangzhou and Penglai established the joint conference mechanism for the research, protection, exploration and joint application of the Marine Silk Road for the world cultural heritage.
In the forum, officials from the seven cities made speeches focusing on such issues as the cultural heritage protection, application of world cultural heritage and scientific urban development. Experts and scholars had a in-depth discussion on the theme of "Marine Silk Road and the process of world civilization".
Related officials of the seven cities held a second round-table meeting and signed the program of action (named "new chances, new challenges and new leap forward")for the joint application of the Marine Silk Road being titled world cultural heritage