The Macao Historical Architecture Clump has been qualified for the final contest for the world heritage award at UNESCO's meeting in July, disclosed a culture official here in Macao on Sunday.
Macao's bid has passed an expert appraisal to enter a shortlist of 30 projects worldwide for the final round competition at the meeting of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, Stephen Chan Chak Seng, chief of the Cultural Heritage Department of the Macao Cultural Bureau told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.
Macao's bid under the name of Macao Historical Architecture Clump has been designated as China's only nomination to apply for the World Heritage selection of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2005. It embraces 12 priceless cultural heritage sites, including China's oldest church, Christian cemetery, lighthouse and western theater.
The 29th meeting of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee is set for July 10 to 16 in South Africa, which will announce this year's winners to be inscribed in UNESCO's World Heritage List.
Macao preserves China's largest clump of urban historical properties with a 400-year history of mixing the eastern and western cultures. With the support from the Chinese government, the Macao Special Administrative Region officially launched the procedures for the world heritage bidding in July 2002, said Chan.
He added that the relics, most are still in use, have witnessed the earliest pervasion of western religious culture in the oriental continent as well as its ensuing co-existence with the local culture.
As a tourist mecca hosting over 16 million visitor arrivals last year, Macao has brought all of its 128 cultural sites under preservation and an overall face-lift to embrace the patronage of international tourists as well the world heritage bidding.
(Xinhua News Agency April 25, 2005)
