The 28th session of the World Heritage Committee -- held in Suzhou

    The 28th session of the World Heritage Committee was held in Sushou, China, under the chairmanship of Zhang Xinsheng, Vice Minister of Education of China and Chairperson of China’s National Commission for UNESCO, from 28 June to 7 July 2004. Over 700 delegates from States Parties, Advisory Bodies and non-governmental organizations participated. 29 cultural sites and 5 natural sites were added to the World Heritage List, bringing the total number of sites inscribed to 788 (611 cultural, 154 natural, and 23 mixed). 157 reports on the state of conservation were examined. Three properties were added to the List of World Heritage in Danger and three were removed from it. The Committee elected its Chairperson: Themba P. Wakashe of South Africa, Deputy Director-General for Heritage at the South Africa National Archives and Library Services; its Rapporteur: Ariel Gonzalez of Argentina, and its Vice-Chairpersons: Colombia, Lebanon, New Zealand, Nigeria and Portugal. The mandate of this Bureau will last until the end of the 29th session of the World Heritage Committee in July 2005.
    During this eight-day session, in a warm and hospitable atmosphere created by the host country and by the city of Suzhou, the World Heritage Committee examined a considerable number of issues aimed at making its work, and the implementation of the World Heritage Convention more efficient.