Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Heena Waheed has addressed the fourth Council Meeting of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia (ACHA), held in Hangzhou, China, emphasizing the importance of protecting cultural identity, preserving traditional knowledge and making cultural heritage accessible in the digital age.
The Minister is visiting China from 16 to 20 October to participate in the council meeting and the Liangzhu Forum, bringing together international discussions on cultural heritage preservation and cooperation.
Established through an initiative launched by China and other Asian countries, ACHA serves as a regional platform for cooperation in safeguarding cultural heritage. The alliance was formally established as an intergovernmental organisation in 2023, providing a framework for member countries to strengthen joint research, exchange expertise, train heritage professionals and support conservation projects. The Maldives joined the alliance as a member state in 2024.
The fourth council meeting, held on 18 October, brought together representatives from 21 countries and international cultural heritage organisations. Discussions focused on strengthening regional cooperation, protecting endangered heritage and exploring how science, technology and artificial intelligence can improve conservation efforts. The meeting also approved Egypt as a partner state and Kazakhstan as an observer state.
Addressing the meeting, Minister Heena stressed that the loss of cultural heritage extends far beyond the destruction of historical sites and physical monuments. For countries such as the Maldives, she explained, such losses can also mean the disappearance of national identity, collective memories and valuable knowledge that may never be recovered.
She highlighted the importance of ensuring that innovative technologies for cultural heritage protection are accessible to all countries, including smaller nations with limited resources.
“The native language of the Maldivian people, their knowledge and the cultural characteristics of small communities such as the Maldives must be represented in the digital world,” Minister Heena said.
The Minister also referred to President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s vision of transforming the Maldives into a developed nation by 2040, describing it as a national aspiration that places particular importance on safeguarding the country’s identity.
She noted that national policies, institutional reforms and development initiatives are guided by this long-term vision, underscoring the importance of preserving Maldivian heritage alongside economic and social progress.
The discussions at the council meeting reflect broader efforts by Asian countries to strengthen cooperation in cultural heritage conservation, promote the exchange of expertise and ensure that historical knowledge and traditions are passed on to future generations.
During her visit to China, Minister Heena is also scheduled to participate in the Liangzhu Forum, which brings together international participants to discuss cultural heritage preservation, the transmission of civilisations and exchanges between different cultures.
