3rd UNESCO High-Level Forum for Museums Opens in Hangzhou

HANGZHOU, China, April 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 3rd UNESCO High-Level Forum for Museums officially began today in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Opening remarks were delivered by Ernesto Ottone R., UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, Gao Zheng, Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism and Director of the National Museum of China, and Zhao Cheng, Standing Committee Member of Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Publicity Department. Yao Gaoyuan, Deputy Secretary of the Hangzhou Municipal Party Committee and Mayor of Hangzhou, was also in attendance.

The forum features keynote speeches, thematic discussions, interactive sessions, and field visits. Delegates from global institutions including Château de Chantilly (France), National Museum of Colombia, National Museum of Singapore, The Jordan Museum, The Palace Museum (China), and Chinese Traditional Culture Museum (China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum), shared their insights on topics ranging from "The Evolution and Transformative Role of Museums" and "Digital Technology and AI Applications" to "Museums as Educational Hubs for Lifelong Learning". Discussions also explored the Virtual Museum of Looted Artifacts, technology showcases, and key issues shaping the future of the museum field.

Running through April 25, the forum convenes over 190 participants from more than 60 countries and regions, including museum directors, subject-matter experts, and policymakers. Key outcomes from the event will be presented at the 2025 World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development in Spain this September.