The Liangzhu Museum. [Photo/VCG]

The fourth Liangzhu Forum, to be held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, from Oct 18 to 20, will focus on cultural heritage protection, international cooperation, and the return of lost cultural relics, marking the 90th anniversary of the discovery of the Liangzhu site.

Under the theme "Bridging the Past and the Future: Safeguarding Cultural Heritage for Our Times," the forum will feature an opening ceremony and main forum, five sub-forums, and five supporting activities.

The event will bring together international experts to discuss early civilizations, archaeological research, and the protection of major heritage sites. New research findings and academic publications on Liangzhu will also be presented, tracing nine decades of archaeological discoveries.

International cooperation will be a major focus. The forum will work with organizations including UNESCO, the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia, and the International Council on Monuments and Sites. Four influential intergovernmental organizations in cultural heritage will participate, strengthening the forum's role in multilateral dialogue on global heritage governance.

The forum will also address practical challenges, including the recovery and return of cultural objects removed from their countries of origin. A dedicated sub-forum will explore international cooperation and policy mechanisms, and an Asia-Pacific dialogue will focus on the restitution and return of cultural property.

Another sub-forum will examine how to combine cultural heritage protection with sustainable tourism, discussing how to preserve heritage values while promoting responsible use and development.