On April 11th, 2012, at the UNESCO World Heritage Center (WHC）, Prof. Zhou Jian and Dr. Kong Ping had a meeting with Mr. Jing Feng (Chef of Asia and Pacific Unit, WHC), colleagues from the Asia and Pacific Unit, Ms. Cecilie Smith-Christensen and Mr. Ole Søe Eriksen from Nordic World Heritage Foundation. The meeting aimed to define the work scope and work plan for WHITRAP to take a leading role in developing the capacity building strategy and implementation plans for South-East and North-East Asia.

At the beginning, Mr. Jing Feng briefed the Periodic Reporting exercise for the Asia and Pacific region and shared the identified regional issues in relation to the conservation of World Heritage properties, such as development impacts, insufficient management plan, risk management and so on. On the basis of Periodic Reporting, Prof. Zhou Jian and Dr. Kong Ping presented a draft work plan for developing sub-regional capacity building strategies and implementation plans. Colleagues from WHC Asia and Pacific Unit commented on the draft with their own working experience and offered important information to strengthen the regional cooperation. Ms. Cecilie Smith-Christensen and Mr. Ole Søe Eriksen shared their experience in assisting African Capacity Building Strategies. It was a very informative meeting. WHITRAP will further develop the work plan and corresponding activities to support the World Heritage Center on developing regional capacity building strategies and implementation plans.