Fuzhou, capital of East China's Fujian province, has been selected as the host city of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

Abulfaz Garayev, chairperson of the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee, announced on July 9 in Baku, Azerbaijan that the city of Fuzhou will host the next session of the World Heritage Committee in 2020.

Tian Xuejun, vice minister of the Ministry of Education, was elected as chairman of the new committee.

Tian said that the Chinese government attaches great importance to cultural protection and is a strong supporter of the international committee. The choice of Fuzhou as the host of the 44th session of World Heritage Committee is an affirmation to China's efforts to protect its culture and heritage, Tian continued.

China will do what it can to ensure the conference is a success. It will help to promote exchange and mutual learning among civilizations, sustainable development, and the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, he added.

The number of world heritage sites in China has been rapidly growing since 1985, when it ratified the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

At present, China ranks first worldwide with 55 world heritage sites. The latest addition is the archaeological ruins of Liangzhu in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, which date back 5,300 years. The site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list during the recently concluded session of the World Heritage Committee.

Fujian is now home to four world heritage sites, namely, Mount Wuyi, Fujian Tulou, Gulang Islet and China Danxia in Taining.

Fuzhou, capital city of the province, has a history of more than 2,200 years and is home to a large number of well-preserved historical and cultural relics. In 1986, the city was designated as a national historical and cultural city.