Flowing through nine provinces and regions, China's "Mother River" is considered the cradle of Chinese civilization as it has been nourishing the nation for thousands of years. Aiming to open a new chapter in the international communication of Yellow River culture, a series of cooperation agreements were signed at the Yellow River Culture Forum in Dongying in east China's Shandong. The city marks the last stop for the river before it converges with the sea.

The Yellow River has nurtured regional cultures such as the Dadiwan Culture, Yangshao Culture, and Majiayao Culture. Famous poems such as Tang Dynasty (618-907) poet Li Bai's "Invitation to Wine" and Wang Zhihuan's "On the Stork Tower" portray the unparalleled grandeur of the river in ancient times. 

"The Yellow River is becoming one of the most representative symbols of Chinese culture. We should promote this symbol to the world so that more people can learn about Chinese culture," said Kang Jianguo, a researcher at the Inner Mongolia Academy of Social Sciences. 

As the second-longest river in China, the Yellow River flows through Qinghai, Sichuan, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Shandong and other provinces. "The Yellow River Culture Forum connects these provinces and regions. It is contributing to improved ecological protection and development along the Yellow River basin," said Ma Chengjun, Vice President of Qinghai Minzu University.  

Examples of China's intangible cultural heritage found along the Yellow River basin are seen as the "living fossils" of Yellow River culture. Representatives from the nine regions have jointly agreed to promote and tell stories about this, engage in more exchanges in the fields of cultural and tourism development, and work together on the protection of cultural relics.

"The importance of ecological protection in the Yellow River basin for present and future generations is undeniable," said Naser Golsanami, Associate Professor at Shandong University of Science and Technology. The Yellow River is not only the birthplace of Chinese civilization, but also an essential ecological system in China, he noted.

The Yellow River serves as an important ecological corridor, and its basin harbors biodiversity hotspots and is a habitat for many threatened species. In recent years, the ecological protection of this sweeping waterway has received considerable attention from government departments, so that people all over the world can learn about and appreciate its significance.