Intangible heritage provides 'strength and confidence'

Intangible heritage is impalpable like the air, light and nimble like music, and furtive like a dance movement. Yet there is nothing stronger in bringing us together as a single community, said Irina Bokova, director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

She made the remarks on Saturday at the fourth International Festival of Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Chengdu, Sichuan province.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, and in attendance were more than 300 representatives of the 153 State Parties to the convention, experts who drafted the convention, UNESCO officials who contributed to its adoption and implementation, Chinese scholars and officials in charge of intangible cultural safeguarding in different parts of China.