From 15th to 16th Feb. 2008, the Coordination Meeting of UNESCO WHITR-AP (UNSCO World Heritage Training and Research Institute for the Asia and the Pacific Region) was held in Tongji University. On the 34th session of UNESCO General Conference, WHITR-AP was adopted by UNESCO as a category 2 center under the auspices of UNESCO in Nov. 2007. In response to the decision, the Coordination Meeting aimed to adopt the operational principles and to reach the Agreement among the three sub-institutes. Mr. Zhang Xinsheng, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education, P.R.China, and Chairman of the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO presented the meeting and made an important speech. Other participants included Mr. Tian Xiaogang, Secretary General of the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, Mr. Du Yue, Deputy Secretary General of the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, Mr. Lin Jianhua, Vice President of Peking University, Mr. Zhu Jiansheng, Vice Mayor of SU Zhou, and Mr. Zhou Zuyi, Deputy Secretary of Tongji University.

Mr. Zhang Xinsheng summarized the previous work in the preparation and application for the Category 2 Center. He expressed high appreciation for the great contribution of the three Sub-institutes in Beijing, Shanghai, and Suzhou, and for the continuous support from Chinese Ministry of Education, Chinese Ministry of Construction, Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, Shanghai Municipal People's Government, Suzhou Government, Tsinghua University and other institutes and organizations. The meeting has also reached an agreement to set up a secretary department in Beijing to function as mediation division among the three Sub-Institutes. WHITR-AP will be working under one operational system to perform as a high-level institute for world heritage conservation in Asian Pacific Region.

Through discussion, the three Sub-institutes have reached a consensus on the operational principles and set up the Agreement among the three Sub-institutes of WHITR-AP. With the principle of openness and fairness, WHITR-AP is sure to make a great contribution to the 'Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritag', and '4C Strategy'.