[Uniquement en Anglais]

In the framework of a new cultural policy of co-operation, the Japanese Government selected the field of cultural heritage preservation, and deposited a fund with UNESCO in 1989 specifically for that purpose. Called "The Japanese Trust Fund for the Preservation of the World Cultural Heritage", it thereby confirmed its determination to support the joint efforts of UNESCO and the countries concerned.

The world’s cultural heritage sites show our cultural diversity through their different artistic styles and social functions. Thus, they provide us with opportunities to appreciate different cultural traditions while at the same time representing common human aspirations. Cultural heritage, an expression of human existence, continually inspires us. Therefore, responsibility for its protection should be shared by us all, in order that it can serve as a bridge between the past, present and future.

Four decades after the first International Safeguarding Campaign launched by UNESCO to save the monuments and sites of Nubia, the international community is now fully aware of the importance of the world cultural heritage and of its responsibility towards this common heritage of humanity.

Although the international community has continued to respond to UNESCO’s appeals, more pressing economic needs have often relegated culture to second place. Yet cultural heritage can be a major opportunity for economic development, as has been shown in Cambodia, and it needs to be properly managed according to integrated plans. The cultural heritage can also play an important role in enhancing people’s awareness of their own cultural identities, especially for those living in post-conflict situations.

UNESCO is grateful to the Japanese Government for its continuing support for the Organization’s endeavours in the field of culture, notably through the generous contribution it has made through this Trust Fund to saving numerous cultural heritage sites all over the world. The greater part of this co-operation has been carried out in Asia, though projects have also been successfully implemented in Europe (Romania), Africa (Benin and Egypt), and Latin America (Peru and Chile).

Within the framework of the Japanese Funds-in-Trust, the World Heritage Centre implemented a preparatory assistance project for the identification of potential World Heritage properties (US $306,000) in more than 15 developing countries. Furthermore, another capacity-building project for the development of a monitoring and reporting system at the cultural heritage properties in Asia (US $334,800) was successfully implemented in conjunction with the Periodic Reporting exercise for the Asia-Pacific region from 2001-2004.

Given the universal significance of cultural heritage preservation, it is UNESCO’s ardent wish that such cooperation should in future also be carried out elsewhere in the world at other cultural sites whose preservation is essential for future generations.