Youth education is of great significance for fulfilling all tasks set out in the global strategy on world heritage protection, according to a declaration passed in Suzhou Wednesday at the 28th session of the World Heritage Committee.

The Declaration on Enhancing Youth Education on World Heritage Protection, made at the session's closing ceremony, describes world heritage as the superb crystallization of every country's history, culture and civilization, which represents the most valuable natural wonders and landscapes of outstanding beauty.

"Numerous world heritage sites in State Parties have been well protected, thanks to the awareness raising and education on the part of the local governments of those countries," says the declaration.

But it also points that some of the heritage sites have been irreversibly damaged due to wars, tourism development, natural disasters, environmental pollution, shortage of funds and people's lack of knowledge.

When referring to solutions, the declaration stresses that it is the globe's joint responsibility to protect world heritage, the future of which is in the hands of the young people today.

"Among us there will be future leaders who will make decisions and implement plans. Consequently, it is of the utmost importance to strengthen youth education," it says. Source: Xinhua