Conference for Asian cultural heritage protection kicks off in Chongqing

The Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia (ACHA) began its second general assembly in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Thursday to explore ways of better preserving cultural heritage and developing Asian models and technical standards.

ACHA was established in 2023 by 10 Asian nations, including China, Armenia, and Cambodia. It is also the first and only intergovernmental organization in Asia in the field of cultural heritage.

The three-day gathering attracted more than 200 experts and representatives from 33 countries and international organizations.

They engaged in extensive exchanges and discussions on implementing key principles of the Global Civilization Initiative, improving ACHA's governance structure, and advancing its institutionalized and operational development.

They aim to jointly build an open, pragmatic, and innovative Asian cooperation network for cultural heritage and advance the establishment of a global governance system for cultural heritage that is equal, orderly, and mutually beneficial.

"The assembly focused on further strengthening the protection of Asia's cultural heritage, such as carrying out the restoration of historical sites and combating trafficking of cultural relics. Meanwhile, it deepened exchanges among Asian civilizations by promoting joint archaeological projects, inter-museum cooperation, and talent training. It sent out Asia's voice in the field of cultural heritage protection to the world, contributing to the formation of Asian model and technical standards in this area," said Ma Xiaolin, dean of the School of Cultural Heritage and Information Management with Shanghai University.

ACHA will establish several professional committees in fields such as Austronesian and oceanic civilizations to provide sustainable professional support for the alliance's development.

Conference for Asian cultural heritage protection kicks off in Chongqing

Even under assumptions that the U.S.-Israel war on Iran does not persist past April and that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz gradually resumes, the world will face the pressure of rising oil prices throughout this year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Tuesday.

In its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook released on Tuesday, the EIA raised the forecast of Brent crude oil spot price for 2026 to 96 U.S. dollars per barrel from the previous forecast of 79 U.S. dollars a barrel.

Retail gasoline and diesel prices will continue the rising trend this year, said the outlook.

The outlook maintains a risk premium on crude oil prices throughout the forecast period, as the EIA expects uncertainty around future supply disruptions to keep prices above pre-conflict levels.

"Once flows through the Strait of Hormuz resume, we assume it will take time to resolve the backlog and disruption to oil tanker routes and trade flows and that the potential for future disruptions will remain at risk and create a premium in the oil price," it said.

US Energy Information Administration forecasts rising oil prices throughout 2026