世界运河城市汇聚扬州 共绘运河城市美好未来

Core Points - The 2025 World Canal Cities Forum opened in Yangzhou, Jiangsu, focusing on the integration of culture and tourism along canals, highlighting the historical significance and future potential of canal cities [1][3] - The forum has seen participation from over 200 cities across more than 50 countries, emphasizing sustainable development and global cooperation in promoting canal culture [2] Group 1: Cultural and Historical Significance - Canals have historically driven economic prosperity, urban development, and cultural exchange, serving as a shared historical memory and valuable asset for humanity [5] - The Grand Canal of China, recognized as the earliest, largest, longest, and most enduring artificial canal, continues to thrive and is a focal point for cultural heritage preservation and tourism [5] Group 2: Development Initiatives - Jiangsu Province is actively promoting the construction of the Grand Canal National Cultural Park, focusing on the protection of historical cultural heritage, ecological governance, and waterway development [5] - The establishment of the Yangzhou Grand Canal Museum and the hosting of the Grand Canal Cultural Tourism Expo are key initiatives aimed at revitalizing the cultural tourism landscape [5] Group 3: International Collaboration - The forum featured remarks from the Panamanian Ambassador to China, highlighting the shared cultural heritage of the Panama Canal and the Grand Canal, and emphasizing the importance of deep cultural experiences in canal tourism [5] - UNESCO recognizes the potential of canal cities to lead in sustainable cultural tourism development, integrating cultural heritage with local wisdom in climate action and urban resilience [6] Group 4: Future Directions - The forum aims to share effective practices and successful cases in cultural tourism development among canal cities, with Yangzhou positioned as a model for cultural preservation and promotion [6] - The release of the "World Canal Cities Tourism Development Initiative" seeks to unify global canal cities in promoting high-quality development in canal culture and tourism [6]