(KPL/Prensa Latina) The 5th Regional Conference of the Organization of World Heritage Cities in Asia and the Pacific (OWHC-AP) concludes its second day of work on Wednesday in the Vietnamese city of Hue with the participation of representatives from seven countries.

“Livability for the Sustainable Development of World Heritage Cities” is the central theme of the forum, which will conclude on Thursday.

It offers a space for dialogue on public policies, urban management, and strategies to improve the quality of life in cities with a rich historical and cultural legacy.

This meeting represents a valuable opportunity for urban leaders, experts, and heritage communities to exchange experiences, promote new initiatives, and strengthen international cooperation in heritage preservation in urban environments, Nguyen Thanh Binh, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Hue municipal People’s Committee, said at the opening of the event.

Thanh Binh recalled that this was the first city in Vietnam that the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared as a World Heritage Site and reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to protecting the past as the foundation of its identity and the driving force behind its development.

He emphasized, quoted by VNA, that Hue is committed to an urban model based on cultural heritage, landscape, ecology, and sustainability.

Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Quebec, Canada, the Organization of World Heritage Cities brings together more than 200 cities whose sites have been declared by UNESCO.

KPL