Editor's note: Li Liusan, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the Director of the China Academy of Cultural Heritage. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

China's endeavor to globalize its national cultural heritage began in 1957, subsequent to the founding of the People's Republic of China. In this groundbreaking year, experts from the China Academy of Cultural Heritage embarked on a mission to support two projects in Mongolia. Previously, it was always foreign experts coming to China's assistance.

The decade-long restoration of Cambodia's Chau Say Tevoda was the first project we undertook abroad. Back then, we faced the challenge of assembling over 4,000 scattered pieces of the temple. The extent to which it should be restored is governed by international conventions. We also have our own preservation guidelines in China, which advocate for leaving things as they were with minimal intervention, like the way the Old Summer Palace was restored.

The unique circumstances in Cambodia required us to deviate from that principle because the Chau Say Tevoda is a sacred place in the hearts of the Cambodian people. Therefore, it must be restored in full through surveying, scanning, digital modeling, simulated restoration, etc., eventually bringing together more than 4,000 components of the temple piece by piece. This project served as a pioneering initiative where the Chinese team ventured abroad for cultural exchange, and the entire restoration process went very smoothly.

The success of the Chau Say Tevoda restoration project led to a chain of subsequent projects in Cambodia, including the restoration of Ta Keo, the Royal Palace site, and Preah Vihear Temple.

Throughout these international exchanges, we always adhere to one principle, which is to treat each other equally. This ethos forms the bedrock of cultural exchanges. Without equality, respect and a spirit of mutual learning, it's difficult to have genuine exchanges. Through our practical actions, we strive to demonstrate the Chinese team's professional competence, work ethic, and cooperative spirit. In the process of cooperation, showcasing Chinese civilization through deeds is much more effective than words.

In 2015, we extended our assistance to Uzbekistan, where we undertook two significant projects, one at a religious school and the other at a mosque. Chinese President Xi Jinping, during his 2016 visit to Uzbekistan, even took the time to meet the Chinese experts working on cultural relics restoration and archaeology. Uzbekistan expressed high regard for the results of our work.

Back then, the main problem was the foundation sinking caused by flooding. Our approach to restoration, founded on the principle of "minimal intervention," was particularly beneficial in addressing the foundation sinking problem caused by flooding. We addressed the root cause by first removing the existing water hazards, and then adjusting the building structure gradually to reinforce the most dangerous parts while controlling other water hazards. This pragmatic strategy, a hallmark of Chinese expertise, received high praise from Uzbek experts and international cultural heritage organizations.

From April to May 2015, Nepal was struck by a devastating earthquake. The nine-story Dharahara Tower suffered severe damage, with partial collapse and serious overall deformation. Upon arrival, Chinese experts first communicated their restoration plan with local personnel, determining what to restore, what not to restore, and to what extent.

Given the tower's sacred stature in the hearts of the Nepalese, they hope to restore it as soon as possible. In this location, right next to the tower was an American construction site. A stone's throw away across a petite square lay a Japanese worksite, and beyond a larger plaza stood a UN project. This landscape could be likened to an international arena of competition. Currently, our project is the only one that has been completed, with the others having barely begun.

The main reason we were able to complete the restoration so efficiently is that our philosophy was well-matched with the condition of the tower. We cleared all components buried in the rubble and reused as many as possible, resulting in a re-utilization rate of 85 percent. Moreover, we employed cutting-edge technologies such as 3D scanning, digital modeling, drone aerial photography, and virtual assembly. In the end, the project was a complete success, with Nepal lauding the restoration of the Dharahara Tower as a shining example of our international collaboration.

In all our international collaboration projects, particularly those in the countries along the Belt and Road, we place great emphasis on communication with local experts and workers. We always create an environment where we interact very well with each other, much like a family.

This cultural and civilizational exchange is realized through our everyday work. We tell the story of China through actions and advance China's major-country diplomacy through cultural heritage diplomacy.

China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy also contributed to this article.

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