Memorandum of Understanding Signed

By Yufeng Guo

More than 6,000 people participated in APA's 2005 National Planning Conference in San Francisco where events, sessions, and programs related to planning in China were well attended and sparked interest and discussion. Mr. Shan Jixiang, Director General of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH) of the People's Republic of China, delivered a keynote speech at the conference, received the first APA International Leadership Award, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with APA. SACH is the ministerial level national agency for historic and cultural preservation in China. Visit www.nach.gov.cn for more information.

In his speech, Mr. Shan quoted Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao: "How the historical and cultural heritage is preserved in a city is an important symbol of its civilization. In urban construction and development, we should properly govern the relationship between the drive for modernization and the conservation of cultural heritage, and respect the city's evolving history so as to make the city more attractive with its profound culture as time goes on." Mr. Shan then described the rapid urbanization process in China and how it threatens historic preservation. Urban sprawl, developmental destruction, and so-called "European architectural fad" had lead to Chinese cities' loss of city characteristics, or "characteristic crisis." Mr. Shan cited the newly-revised National Law on Protection of Cultural Relics, which spells out the current policies.

Mr. Shan outlined eight key strategies in China's preservation planning, using cases in Beijing, Nanjing, and Suzhou:

Incorporate preservation philosophy into planning; reduce the barriers between preservation and development; overcome the perceived dilemma that the two cannot go hand-in-hand.

Use regional strategies o reduce developmental pressure at historic districts.

Redirect growth into new districts and protect historic districts.

Implement incremental renovation and rehabilitation to built environments in historic districts. This will not only preserve historic characteristics but also the original social structure.

Respect original urban street system; prevent super blocks; encourage transit system development

Preserve and capitalized on city characteristics, history, diversity, and cultural spirit.

Strengthen archeological research. Although cities change over time, the basic urban pattern and fabrics largely will remain, thus there is precious historic information buried underground.

Uphold the principles of historic preservation. Historic preservation is not simple, short-term construction, but sophisticated, long-term cultural engagement.

At the end of his keynote speech, Mr. Shan stated that "city planning and heritage conservation are naturally linked disciplines which are inseparable, for they share subjects of common interest both in theory and in practice. ... We are grateful to the international community for its interest in China's conservation work in her accelerated urbanization. We welcome the American Planning Association and other international organizations and personnel to join us in the great efforts to protect cultural heritage in China."

As Director General of the State of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, People's Republic of China, Shan Jixiang represents the Chinese government and the country's planning and cultural preservation professions.

Since beginning his career nearly 20 years ago, Shan has walked and surveyed nearly every historic street in Beijing, China's rapidly modernizing capital city. As director of the Beijing Cultural Heritage Bureau and executive director of China's Capital Planning Commission, Shan has been a powerful and effective leader. He has been instrumental in maintaining the city's unique cultural characteristics through several plans, including "Beijing's Historic Streets Zone Preservation Plan," "The Forbidden City Preservation Plan," and the "The Old Summer Palace Preservation Plan." Promoted head of the SACH in 2002, Shan helped secure passage of China's landmark National Historic Cultural Heritage Protection Law. He also has overseen preservation planning for all of China's National and World Heritage sites.

The first foreign dignitary to receive the APA International Leadership Award, Director General Shan and the Chinese leadership are applauded for making cultural and historic conservation a high priority within national policy and a key component for China's urban planning process.

Under the agreement, the two sides will exchange information on cultural relics and heritage preservation in city planning in China and in the United States and invite the other party to relevant seminars, conferences and planning projects organized by either party.

The two sides will cooperate in research and demonstration programs to further the principles of heritage and cultural conservation and their application at the national, regional, and local levels.

The memorandum also said both sides will encourage relevant educational exchanges at all personnel levels and provide necessary assistance for the other party's professional training.

Shan Jixiang said the signing of the memorandum marks a starting point for a heritage preservation organization of an ancient Oriental country and the largest planning organization in the world to jointly write a new chapter in the conservation of cultural heritage. He said China always looks for more partners for the preservation of its cultural heritage and he is looking forward to long-term cooperation with APA in more areas. He expressed his confidence that such kind of cooperation will certainly promote the integration of heritage preservation into urban planning in China.

APA Executive Director Paul Farmer said the agreement furthers his organization's relationship with the SACH and encourages the exchanges of information and the sharing of education opportunities, research and development.

China's largest and state news agency, Xinhua News Agency, reported this important signing of memorandum.

Yufeng Guo is a Policy Associate in APA's Washington, D.C., office.

Images: Top — Mr. Shan delivered a keynote speech at the International Leadership Forum on planning and historic preservation. Middle — Shan Jixiang, Director General of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of People's Republic of China received the APA International Leadership Award from APA President David Siegel and Carol Rhea, Co-Chair of the 2005 National Planning Awards Jury. Bottom— Mr. Shan Jixiang, Director General of SACH and Paul Farmer, Executive Director of APA, signed a Memorandum of Understanding during APA's National Planning Conference.