TNUA hosted the 2011 Oriental Cultural Heritage Sites Protection Alliance (OCHSPA) International Academic Symposium in Taipei last month.
“From South Asia to Taiwan - Cultural Heritage, History’s Memories, Buddhist Art” was the theme of the two-day symposium, which opened on October 21, with presentations and talks by nine experts from Taiwan and 13 other from another 10 countries -- Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Korea and China.
During the symposium, TNUA also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the OCHSPA on collaboration on various educational, artistic and experimental projects, as well as exchange of research information and personnel.
A six-point “Taipei Declaration” for the conservation of cultural assets was also ratified at the symposium, which was attended by almost 300 people.
The OCHSPA is an important international non-government organization (NGO) founded in Paris, France in 2008. It is devoted to research on and conservation of cultural heritage sites. It has sponsored many conservation projects.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the event, TNUA President Prof. Ju,Tzong-ching said both tangible and intangible assets are indications of the best developments in human beings’ history and civilization, as well as important records of human beings’ culture and life. Therefore, it is imperative that efforts be devoted to preserving them, he said.
Taiwan, playing an important cultural role in Asia, has witnessed the interactions of multiple cultures, particularly the dissemination of Buddhism, Prof. Ju noted. For the conservation, study, protection and management of cultural assets, TNUA will continue to actively promote exchanges with internationally well-known institutions, with the hope to establish partnerships where resources can be shared and talents can be trained for work related the conservation of the world’s cultures, he added.