The inaugural Beijing Culture Forum Salon kicked off at the Divine Music Administration of the Temple of Heaven on Thursday, with the theme of Dialogue: Protection and Inheritance of Cultural Heritage.

As a new initiative of the 2025 Beijing Culture Forum, the salon will hold activities throughout the year such as academic exchanges, dialogue and seminars, inviting both domestic and international cultural experts to share their views.

The event unveiled 17 cultural venues in Beijing to host the salon's upcoming activities, including the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the Temple of Heaven and Qingcheng Palace located within the Altar of the God of Agriculture complex, aiming to enhance the dynamic utilization of Beijing's historical cultural heritage spaces.

Both Chinese and international guests had in-depth discussions on two themes — the Global Value of Cultural Heritage Protection and Technological Empowerment in Cultural Heritage Protection, providing insight on advancing the protection and inheritance of cultural heritage.

About 120 participants attended the event, including government officials and cultural heritage experts, who also enjoyed an exhibition zone showcasing Beijing's intangible cultural heritage and cultural creative products.

"China attaches great importance to preserving intangible cultural heritage, integrating traditional culture into contemporary contexts. This is how culture can provide social inclusion and a sense of community and belonging," former director-general of UNESCO Irina Bokova said in her speech at the event.