China's Xixia Imperial Tombs inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site

China's Xixia Imperial Tombs were inscribed on the World Heritage List on Friday during UNESCO's 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Paris, France.

With this addition, the total number of World Heritage sites in China has reached 60.

Xixia Imperial Tombs is a group of imperial burial sites from the Xixia Dynasty (Western Xia, 1038-1227), founded by the Tangut people in northwestern China during the 11th to 13th centuries.

Covering an area of nearly 40 square km, the site comprises four types of architectural remains: 9 imperial mausoleums, 271 subordinate tombs, a northern architectural complex covering 0.05 square km, and 32 flood control works.

"The ruins of the Xixia Imperial Tombs include both natural and human-made elements, which shape the landscape of these tombs together. This application for World Heritage status reflects a fresh perspective on the Xixia Dynasty, which, though not documented in the Twenty-Four Histories of China, coexisted with the Song, Liao, and Jin dynasties," said Chen Tongbin, honorary president of Architectural History Institute under the China Architecture Design and Research Group.

The Xixia Imperial Tombs are the largest, highest-ranked, and most intact archaeological site from the Xixia period that has survived to the present day.

According to the World Heritage Committee, the site is a testament to the cultural fusion and interactions of diverse traditions. It also bears witness to the unique role of the Xixia Dynasty in cultural and commercial exchanges along the Silk Roads during the 11th to 13th centuries.

The Committee commended the efforts and achievements made by the Chinese government in the protection and management of the cultural heritage of the Xixia Imperial Tombs.

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez said Thursday that her country is not "subjugated" to the United States following last weekend's U.S. assault and the ensuing capture of President Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuela remains autonomous and independent despite the military operation and there was no passivity during the attacks, she said.

Rodriguez said that no one had surrendered there and that there had been combat for their homeland and for their liberators.

She made the remarks during a ceremony at the National Guard Military Academy in Caracas, honoring soldiers and civilians killed or wounded in the January 3 U.S. invasion.