News DeskAlUla, Saudi Arabia – The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has significantly strengthened and expanded its cultural, heritage, and tourism ties with China through active participation in two major global cultural forums.
The Silk Road Dialogue, held in Istanbul, Türkiye, from June 27-30, and the International Ancient Capitals Forum in Luoyang, China, from June 26-28, provided RCU with prominent platforms to enhance the profile of AlUla. Known as the world’s largest living museum, AlUla was showcased among renowned cultural experts, heritage specialists, and tourism sector leaders from China and beyond.
As a founding member of the International Tourism Alliance of Silk Road Cities, AlUla stands among 63 destinations in 28 countries, united by the historical flow of ideas and civilizations along ancient trade routes. The Silk Road Dialogue featured a variety of exhibits, showcases, and discussions, supporting collaborative efforts and official visits by delegates to AlUla and other destinations. This event significantly contributed to RCU’s cultural conservation mandate by expanding established strategic partnerships and forging new ones.
Tourism was a central theme at the Dialogue, with RCU engaging with partners from China and other Silk Road Cities to develop opportunities for attracting and hosting international visitors, enhancing their shared heritage offerings.
Simultaneously, the International Ancient Capitals Forum offered RCU a platform to share its dedication to preserving and promoting cultural heritage. Highlighting AlUla’s reputation as a globally significant ancient destination, the Forum attracted history experts, government officials, and diplomats from China and around the world. This event builds on an agreement signed earlier this year between AlUla and its Chinese partners at the Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage.
High-level meetings between RCU and Luoyang municipal government officials covered cooperation areas, including tourism, agriculture, conservation, and urban development, while exploring new sectors for partnership between China and Saudi Arabia.
An RCU spokesperson stated, “The Royal Commission for AlUla continues to build on the deep-rooted foundations of cultural partnership that exist between China, the Kingdom, and northwest Arabia. The Silk Road Dialogue and International Ancient Capitals Forum events represented exciting opportunities to develop new avenues of collaboration, focusing on expanding knowledge exchange and promoting tourism through diverse initiatives built upon our shared status as ancient destinations and rapidly developing landmarks for human heritage.”
These forums have successfully enhanced AlUla’s cultural and tourism ties with China, promoting the exchange of knowledge and strengthening partnerships, aligning with RCU’s vision for cultural conservation and global heritage promotion.
