Over 200 museum experts, scholars, and media representatives from across the globe converged in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, this week for the Second Chinese Museum Studies Conference. The four-day event, held from October 23 to 26, spotlighted innovative strategies to strengthen the symbiotic relationship between cultural preservation and economic growth in the museum sector.
Delegates from the United States, Brazil, Tunisia, and other countries joined Chinese counterparts in panel discussions exploring cross-cultural collaboration. A keynote session featured APEC members emphasizing museums’ untapped potential as drivers of regional economic partnerships. “Cultural institutions are not just repositories of history – they’re catalysts for sustainable development,” noted one panelist from Mexico.
The conference marked a milestone with UNESCO and the Chinese Museum Association launching two initiatives: the Guidelines for Accessible Museums in China and a Chinese edition of the Museum Studies Dictionary. These resources aim to standardize inclusive practices and foster academic exchange, particularly benefiting developing economies.
With Suzhou’s 2,500-year history as a backdrop, attendees also examined case studies of heritage site revitalization boosting local tourism. The outcomes are expected to influence policy frameworks ahead of next year’s APEC Leaders’ Meeting, where cultural economy is slated to be a key agenda item.
