ZISU teachers and students take a group photo in front of the Tongwen Auditorium. [Photo provided to ehangzhou.gov.cn]

The fourth Liangzhu Forum will be held from Oct 18 to 20 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, under the theme "Bridging the Past and the Future: Safeguarding Cultural Heritage for Our Times." As a supporting event, Liangzhu Civilization in Dialogue with the World will take place on Oct 19 at Zhejiang International Studies University (ZISU).

The Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 6, 2019, provide key evidence of China's 5,000-year civilization. The first Liangzhu Forum was held in Hangzhou in December 2023 and has since become an international platform for promoting dialogue among civilizations.

Marking the 90th anniversary of the discovery of the Liangzhu Ruins, this year's forum will bring together heritage management officials, archaeologists, historians, and representatives of international organizations to discuss archaeological evidence of early civilizations, heritage protection, the return of lost cultural relics, and sustainable tourism.

The dialogue will focus on young people, bringing foreign diplomats and international scholars to the university to discuss heritage preservation and cross-cultural exchange. The event aims to help Chinese and international students appreciate the diversity of world civilizations and promote mutual understanding.