Northwest University hosted the first China-Italy International Academic Symposium on Cultural Heritage Conservation and Valorization at its Chang’an Campus from June 22 to 24. The event, themed "Conservation & Valorization, Technological Empowerment, Collaborative Innovation," brought together over 70 scholars from Chinese and Italian universities, cultural institutions, and enterprises.

The symposium was a collaborative effort between Northwest University and Italy's University of Salento, organized by the An-Lai School of Cultural Heritage and Art at Northwest University. Notable attendees included Sun Qingwei, president of Northwest University, Zhan Changfa, former vice president of the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage, Prof. Girolamo Fiorentino from the University of Salento, and Prof. Grazia Semeraro, Italian executive vice dean of the An-Lai School.

In his opening remarks, President Sun Qingwei highlighted Northwest University's achievements in Silk Road archaeology and digital heritage. He emphasized the importance of the Salento School as a model of Sino-Italian educational cooperation and called for enhanced bilateral resource sharing to innovate global heritage conservation and promote cross-cultural exchanges.

Prof. Girolamo Fiorentino noted that this symposium marked the first significant bilateral dialogue on joint cultural heritage research, advancing the educational partnership between the two universities. Prof. Grazia Semeraro underscored the uniqueness of their joint double-degree program in cultural heritage studies.

Keynote sessions featured discussions on heritage restoration talent cultivation, conservation of world heritage sites, Tang Dynasty mural disease monitoring, and molecular archaeological identification. The latest in ancient organic residue analysis was also presented.

Two sub-forums focused on Cultural Heritage Protection Practices and Cutting-edge Technologies, where participants shared insights on relic restoration, digital reconstruction, AI-assisted mural diagnostics, and interdisciplinary talent development.

The symposium strengthened China-Italy academic collaborations in cultural heritage preservation, promoting cross-border sharing of technologies and educational practices, and fostering mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations.