PARIS, June 28 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese official on Wednesday called on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and China to further strengthen their cooperation in safeguarding the world's intangible cultural heritages.

Deputy Secretary-General of China's State Council Chen Jinyu, who attended UNESCO's first Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritages, made the appeal when he met in Paris with Koichiro Matsuura, Secretary-General of UNESCO on Wednesday.

"Intangible cultural heritage" is defined by UNESCO as the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and skills that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage.

Matsuura said that in recent years, China had put great emphasis on safeguarding cultural heritages, and expressed his gratitude to the Chinese government for its support for the organization.

Chen expounded the importance of respecting and protecting diversified cultures. He said that intangible cultural heritages were significant elements in the building of harmonious societies and bringing peace to the whole world.

Matsuura and Chen agreed to further their cooperation in the future.

In October 2003, the 32nd General Conference of UNESCO adopted the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritages.

Source: Xinhua