Silk Roads Heritage Diplomacy

Heritage diplomacy practices have shifted with China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which, since its launch in 2013, offers financial support and coordination for transboundary heritage conservation efforts. While UNESCO remains the primary authority in managing cultural heritage, the BRI introduces a new dynamic that challenges the 'western-dominated' approach to heritage diplomacy. The successful inscription of the Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor as World Cultural Heritage in 2014 highlights this shift, contrasting with unsuccessful nominations in South Asia. This study examines how the BRI's involvement in cultural exchange initiatives and transboundary nominations may balance existing heritage governance structures, while also outlining the challenges and prospects ahead for such cooperation.

Chan, V. C. M. (2023). Silk Roads Heritage Diplomacy. Heritage Conservation and China’s Belt and Road Initiative, 143–159. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003401919-13