Chou Wen-chung

Leadership Conference on Conservancy and Development: Introductory Remarks

[continued]

As the conference was a broadly multidisciplinary, international as well as intercultural gathering dedicated to the initial examination of a complex set of facts, concepts and experience, a statement at its conclusion would be of value to future investigations on strategies for conservancy and development. Such a statement, moreover, would assist Yunnan in its pursuit for an integrated policy on cultural and ecological conservation and economic and social development- a policy that had just been put in place. Consequently, two sessions, towards the end of the conference, were devoted to exchanging ideas and observations on the presentations and discussions. The final event, the wrap-up session, was then devoted to comments and exchanges on the proposed statement, which had been drafted and undergone revisions by teams of international and Yunnan participants during the Conference. Written and additional verbal comments were collected then for further incorporation into the drafted statement, entitled “The Yunnan Initiative.”

The Yunnan Initiative states that the coordinated and balanced development of culture, ecology and the environment, economy, and social development is the most promising avenue for interactions between humanity and nature. The participants value Yunnan's recently adopted policy that identifies the province’s diversity in nature and culture as the basis for development. The outcome of the policy could provide the answer to many questions raised globally as well as locally. However, its implementation requires a high degree of commitment from all concerned. The process of dialogue, so fruitfully begun at the Conference, should continue in a format that encourages international collaboration.

After citing issues for special attention and recommending areas for exploration, the Yunnan Initiative concludes:

“We trust these recommendations can effectively enhance the coordinated and balanced development of culture, ecology and the environment, and the economy and society of Yunnan for all the peoples of the twenty-six nationalities. And, we hope the Yunnan Initiative will serve as a point of reference for peoples all over the world facing similar issues.”

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