For the first time, China and ASEAN countries shared their experiences in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage at a recent governmental-level seminar in Beijing.

The Seminar on Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage in ASEAN and China was attended by Vice-Minister of Culture Wang Wenzhang, diplomats from 10 ASEAN countries, and experts from various parts of China.

"China and ASEAN both enjoy rich and unique intangible cultural heritage resources, which constitute an important part of human cultural heritage," says Ma Mingqiang, secretary-general of ASEAN-China Center, which was launched in Beijing in November, 2011.

"This seminar will help us to better appreciate the national culture of one another, and to strengthen exchanges and cooperation on protection of intangible cultural heritages between China and ASEAN."

The seminar was co-organized by ASEAN-China Center, China National Center for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage, and International Training Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the Auspices of UNESCO.