Four Chinese heritage sites were conferred with a World Heritage Certificate by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Beijing Tuesday.  

The four sites are the confluence of three major rivers in southwest China's Yunnan Province, Yungang Buddhist Grottoes in north China's Shanxi Province, and two mausoleums of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in Beijing and Nanjing respectively.

The Chinese Vice Minister of Education Zhang Xinsheng, who is also chairman of the 28th Session of the World Heritage Committee, said China has always valued the protection of the world heritage and international cooperation in the field, and has made widely-acclaimed achievements in the protection, application, management, monitoring and legislation of the world heritage.

Huang Wei, Chinese vice minister of construction, said it was the Chinese government's responsibility to protect cultural and natural heritage, which belongs to the whole world.

Zhang Bai, deputy director of the State Administration of Culture Heritage, said governments at all levels in China have strengthened the administration of listed world heritage by increasing financial input and intensifying security measures.

So far, a total of 29 heritage sites in China have been listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

The 28th Session of the World Heritage Committee will be held from June 28 to July 7 in Suzhou, a scenic city in Jiangsu Province. Chinese State Councilor Chen Zhili will be director of the preparatory committee.

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2004)