The systematic preservation of intangible cultural assets and improving the way the world perceives Chinese culture are two goals emphasised by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The comments were recently made in a significant directive on the protection of intangible cultural assets by Xi, who is also the general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the chairman of the Central Military Commission. According to Xi, it is important to promote China’s tea culture because “traditional tea processing techniques and accompanying social behaviours” are listed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO.
He urged coordinated efforts to further the systematic protection of intangible cultural heritage, as well as better serving people’s ever-increasing intellectual and cultural requirements and building cultural confidence and strength.
He emphasised the need to advance the best aspects of traditional Chinese culture through creative transformation and development, strengthen national unity and the allure of Chinese culture, deepen interactions and mutual learning with other civilizations, and improve how Chinese culture is represented to the rest of the world.
After passing the test on Nov. 29 at the 17th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in the Moroccan capital Rabat, “Traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practises in China” were added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
China is now the country with the most items on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list with 43 entries.
