HEFEI, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Heritage sites in China and five other Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) member states on Thursday established an alliance aiming to create a cross-disciplinary exchange and cooperation platform.

RCEP member states are home to a total of 171 world heritage sites, said Tes Sothy, deputy director of Cambodia's Department of Tourism Development and Culture, during the 2025 RCEP Local Governments and Friendship Cities Cooperation (Huangshan) Forum held in Huangshan City, east China's Anhui Province.

The RCEP Member States World Heritage Cooperation Alliance Huangshan Initiative document outlines the alliance's objectives, which include fostering dialogue, promoting branding, and facilitating interaction among heritage sites in the fields of art and culture, tourism, sports, education, and research. The alliance seeks to enable efficient flows of technology, capital and talent.

On Wednesday, the management committee of China's Mount Huangshan scenic area renewed its cooperation agreement with Cambodia's Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap. The pact continues collaboration between the two bodies in the fields of heritage conservation innovation, tourism resource sharing and cultural exchange, building on ties established in 2016.

The forum was attended by approximately 300 delegates from the RCEP's 15 member states, and yielded 27 deals covering trade, technology and sister-city ties. Thailand participated in the event as the guest country of honor. ■