Group photo of participants

The Meeting Advisory Committee of the International Centre for Creativity and Sustainable Development under the auspices of UNESCO (ICCSD) was held at the Shejizhidu (Beijing Design Capital) Building on October 26, 2026. Eleven advisory committee members and experts from four countries gathered to discuss key issues under UNESCO's 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, including the International Decade of Culture and the post-2030 cultural agenda. The participants also offered recommendations on the ICCSD's priority projects, focusing on the theme of artificial intelligence and cultural development.

Xiao Lan, Executive Director of the ICCSD, delivers opening remarks

The meeting was chaired by Hans d'Orville, Chairman of the ICCSD Advisory Committee, and featured opening remarks by Xiao Lan, Executive Director of the ICCSD. Participants shared insights from multiple perspectives, covering topics such as exploring diverse forms of cultural expression in the age of AI, the application and governance of AI in cultural and creative industries, digital transformation in the cultural sector, ethical governance of digital technologies, international cooperation in cultural and creative industries, nurturing young creative talent, and leveraging AI to bridge the digital divide.

Hans d'Orville, Chairman of the ICCSD Advisory Committee, presides over the meeting

Experts offered recommendations on technology governance, industry practices, resource development, financing mechanisms, community rights, and university collaboration.

“Cultural and creative economies have always evolved alongside technological progress, and technology should serve human creativity,” said Hans. He noted that AI is becoming increasingly involved in cultural creation and that human-AI collaboration is emerging as a new trend, while emphasizing that human agency must remain central.

 Duong Bich Hanh, Chief of Culture Unit at the UNESCO Regional Office in East Asia, delivers remarks in a video message

Duong Bich Hanh noted that AI is bringing both new opportunities and governance challenges to the cultural sector. She expressed hope that the ICCSD would further strengthen its role as a bridge, helping translate international consensus into action and ensuring that technological innovation serves cultural diversity and sustainable development.

Mehri Madarshahi, President of Global Cultural Network, Visiting Professor at South China University of Technology, and Vice Chairman of the Beijing Asia-Pacific Exchange and Cooperation Foundation, delivers remarks

Mehri pointed out that discussions on AI applications in the cultural industries should avoid an overly narrow focus on efficiency. She stressed the need to consider AI's potential impact on human creativity, knowledge autonomy, intellectual property rights, and individual freedom of choice.

Jing Feng, Chief of the Culture Unit of the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, delivers remarks in a video message

Jing Feng recommended establishing cultural investment and financing mechanisms that bring together multiple sources of capital. He also called for training on AI ethics and creators' rights, as well as the development of incubators integrating culture and technology to empower young practitioners.

Chen Hong, Professor at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications and Deputy Director of the Key Laboratory of Interactive Technology and Experience System, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, delivers remarks in a video message

Chen Hong called for accelerating the development of high-quality, diverse cultural datasets and exploring the distinctive value of integrating local cultures with AI. He also emphasized deeper human-AI collaboration and AI training for cultural heritage professionals and cultural and creative practitioners in developing countries.

Yiline Zhao, Associate Programme Specialist in the Cultural Policies and Development Division of UNESCO's Culture Sector, delivers remarks in a video message

Zhao stressed the need to strengthen the regulation and governance of AI applications and to assess both the technology's potential and its associated risks in a balanced manner.

Yang Yueming, Deputy Director and Professor of the Institute of Cultural Innovation and Communication at Beijing Normal University, delivers remarks

Yang Yueming called for ensuring that cultural resources are collected, used, and disseminated without discrimination. She also advocated for a fair distribution of the benefits generated by digital cultural assets so that people can share in the gains of cultural digitalization.

Gábor Soós, Strategic Advisor at the Ministry of Science and Technology, Hungary, delivers remarks in a video message

Gábor Soós pointed out that the survival of cultural diversity in the age of AI depends not only on whether technology can represent diverse cultures, but also on whether ethnic groups and local communities can actively participate in shaping AI technologies that carry their own cultural expressions.

Liu Jiecheng, Deputy Director and Associate Research Fellow at Peking University's Institute for Cultural Innovation, delivers remarks

Liu recommended strengthening the development of diverse cultural datasets and facilitating the wider availability and circulation of computing resources for cultural applications. He also called for AI literacy training for people in developing countries and rural communities to help narrow the digital divide.

Fan Yuan, Director of the Office of International Exchange and Cooperation and Head of the Office of Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR and Taiwan Region Affairs at Beijing University of Technology, delivers remarks

Fan noted that universities could draw on their academic strengths and deepen inter-university and international cooperation to provide research support for global cultural governance.

Liu Hanwen, Cultural Adviser at the UNESCO Regional Office in East Asia, delivers remarks

Liu Hanwen highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration. He called for using a range of research methods to identify emerging industry trends and common challenges, formulate policy recommendations, and safeguard cultural diversity.

Li Shouyong, Deputy Director of the Beijing Center for Science, Technology and Innovation Promotion and Head of its Division of Humanities, Arts and Science Popularization, delivers remarks

Li Shouyong noted that deeper international cooperation and joint research are essential to protecting cultural diversity amid the rapid development of AI.

The advisory committee members and experts agreed that AI innovation and application should remain people-centered, uphold technological ethics and cultural inclusiveness, narrow global digital development gaps, protect cultural diversity, and promote sustainable cultural development.

The meeting established a platform for dialogue and exchange on AI applications and cultural development, enabling participants to jointly explore practical pathways toward sustainable cultural development. The insights and consensus emerging from the discussions will help guide the ICCSD's future work and contribute diverse expertise and perspectives to global efforts to protect cultural diversity and advance the Sustainable Development Goals.

Going forward, the ICCSD will continue to strengthen dialogue and practical cooperation with a wide range of partners and advance efforts to safeguard cultural diversity in the digital environment.