The symposium marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Palace Museum was held on October 10 in Beijing. Li Shulei, member of the Political Bureau and head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee attended the symposium and delivered a speech.

The representatives recognized the Forbidden City as a unique symbol of ancient China and one of the greatest achievements of Chinese civilization. The enduring culture of the Chinese nation has endowed the Forbidden City with a wealth of cultural treasures and a deeply respected heritage. As the product of modern China’s great social transformation, the Palace Museum has evolved in step with the nation’s rejuvenation. Over the past 100 years, it has served as a devoted custodian of cultural legacy and craftsmanship. The construction and ongoing development of the Palace Museum represent an extraordinary accomplishment in the history of Chinese and world culture, one that will continue to inspire generations to come.    

Strengthening cultural heritage protection and inheritance is the historical mission of this generation. Standing at a new starting point, the representatives stated, we must use the study and practice of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture‌ to strengthen cultural confidence, foster the cultural identity of the Chinese nation, and truly make the Palace Museum a leading example for world heritage conservation. We need to prioritize preservation and carefully protect each and every item of our national treasure, unlock their value to improve exhibition and communication, optimize operation and management to boost reform and development vitality, deepen international cooperation to facilitate dialogue and mutual learning between civilizations, and cultivate academic talent to lay a solid foundation for sustainable development. We will, they continued, to contribute to high-quality development in cultural heritage preservation and building the country into a powerhouse in culture.      

Over 100 representatives attended the symposium, including leading officials from the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the National Cultural Heritage Administration, relevant central and state government bodies, and the Beijing municipal government, as well as experts, scholars, cultural relics and museum professionals, former leaders and experts from the Palace Museum, and current staff representatives.