On September 8th, 2017 World Canal Cities Forum was organized in Yangzhou. Co-organized by Yangzhou People’s Government, Foreign Office of Jiangsu Province, WCCO and China National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation, the forum was themed on new opportunities emerged for canal cities in Belt and Road cooperation. 

China World Peace Foundation President Li Ruohong

China World Peace Foundation President Li Ruohong said that the Grand Canal is not only of China, but also of the world. From the ancient times, the Grand Canal has been fulfilling the expectation of connectivity, resource sharing and bringing closer time and space. The flow of personnel, goods, culture and information has broken down the barrier among regions, brought closer people’s heart and laid solid foundation for the exchange between different cultures and languages. He said though the status of canals is not as prominent as it used to be, the inclusiveness and trans-cultural cooperation contained in canal culture still remains a common pursuit of the international community. The culture and sustainable resource value accumulated by cities along canals over a long period of time still bears an abundant modern significance. 

Li said the Grand Canal, a river brimming with Chinese rich history and culture, used to connect Maritime and land Silk Road. Nowadays, the Grand Canal still links China’s five major waterways and is an important entry point to push forward the Belt and Road Initiative. As a peace messenger promoting multilateral cooperation among government, international organization and civil society, China World Peace Foundation and Beijing International Peace Culture Foundation serve the world through people’s diplomacy, international resource allocation and social responsibility. The platform has won support from 178 countries and governments worldwide, Li said. Li also added that the Foundation and UNESCO co-developed an interactive cultural atlas of cultural interactions along the Silk Roads at the end of this May. As a platform and channel to build urban diversity and green economy, WCCO plays a constructive role in canal heritage protection and utilization. The old town culture WCCO promotes is a contribution and gift from Yangzhou to the people of the world. WCCO’s idea enjoys a broad space of cooperation as it coincides with the cultural atlas program.