Seoul, July 20 (QNA) - The World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the "Busan Declaration" on Monday with the objective of strengthening global coordination to overcome the growing risks facing World Heritage sites.

The declaration was unanimously endorsed by all 21 member states, along with the main advisory bodies, during the 48th session currently underway in Busan, the Republic of Korea, and continuing until July 29.

The Committee called for boosting international cooperation to navigate the growing threats facing cultural and natural heritage worldwide.

For the first time, the declaration highlights the need for the responsible use of digital technologies, such as generative AI, put forward by the Republic of Korea, in its capacity as the host country, for discussion and adoption during the current session.

It includes adding the principle of "Cooperation" as a sixth strategic objective alongside the five current priorities of the World Heritage Convention: Credibility, Conservation, Capacity-building, Communication, and Communities.

This intends to boost international cooperation in addressing the challenges threatening heritage sites, foremost among which are climate change and natural disasters.

The Korean Heritage Administration said it will launch 12 follow-up programs to turn the declaration into practical measures. The new addition demonstrates the growing need for countries' joint responses as well as institutions to tackle challenges that can't be navigated through merely individual efforts.

The session convenes almost 3,000 officials and experts representing 196 nations that are parties to the Convention, including the State of Qatar, alongside representatives of regional and international organizations and NGOs specializing in cultural and natural heritage domains.

This meeting marks the first session hosted by the Republic of Korea since it joined the UNESCO World Heritage Convention in 1988.

During this session, the Committee will continue examining nominations for the inscription of sites, assessing their state of conservation, and debating public policy matters related to the Convention. (QNA)