Asian media 'an important force' in promoting civilization

China Daily's publisher and editor-in-chief said Asian media members are an important force for promoting the progress of civilization in the region, and serve as a crucial bridge in cultural exchanges.

Qu Yingpu made the remarks at the Forum on Cultural Heritage Conservation in Malaysia on Thursday.

Qu called on the industry to take responsibility for protecting cultural heritage and to collaborate in bringing down barriers for better collective progress.

"We should encourage more people to become involved in the protection of our cultural heritage. We should make our own contribution to the brilliance of Asian civilization in a new era," Qu said.

In his welcoming speech to the forum, Qu highlighted the importance of appreciating and preserving cultural and natural treasures in Asia, a cradle of human civilization that is home to three ancient civilizations — Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and China — and has been the birthplace of numerous vital achievements in human history.

He called for the revitalization and transformation of Asian civilization to infuse it with new vitality and radiance, saying the only way to preserve culture is to "bring it to life", enabling it to enter daily lives.