Over the course of five days over 350 leaders from around the world gathered in Chiang Mai, Thailand, to discuss the future of Asia’s past. This important gathering brought representatives from cultural authorities, experts on the cultural field, international organizations, corporations, tourism authorities, and interested public to take stock of what is presently being done and what can be done in the future to protect Asia’s cultural heritage from urban sprawl, increasing tourism, pollution, war, and all the vast array of threats to the testimony of civilization.

This publication summarizes the topics presented in the plenary sessions and in the smaller discussion groups centered around some important architectural and archaeological sites and monuments. It also includes the keynote addresses presented at the beginning of the conference and the recommendations agreed to by the speakers of the conference at its conclusion.

• Preface
  Migeul Angel Corzo and Vishakha N. Desai
• Welcoming Remarks
  Nicholas Platt
• Opening Address
  Rear Admiral Usni Pramoj, Representative of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit
• Keynote Address: Bringing Conservation Philosophy into Practice
  Anand Panyarachun
• Introduction to the Conference
  Vishakha N. Desai
• Plenary Session 1: Preservation Policy in Asia
  • Site Management Session I
    • Luang Prabang, Laos
    • Nara, Japan
    • Angkor, Cambodia
• Plenary Session 2: Cultural Tourism and Monuments
  • Site Management Session 2
    • Borobudur, Indonesia
    • Ajanta, India
    • Bagan, Myanmar
• Plenary Session 3: Vernacular Architecture and Colonial Legacy
  • Site Management Session 3
    • Kyongju, Korea
    • Mohenjo-Daro, Pakistan
    • Harappa, Pakistan
    • Hue, Vietnam
• Plenary Session 4: Public and Private Partnerships
  • Site Management Session 4
    • Dunhuang, China
    • Herat, Afghanistan
    • Samarkand and Bukhara, Uzbekistan
    • Ayutthaya, Thailand
• Plenary Session 5: Threats to Heritage Sites
• Plenary Session 6: World Monuments Watch: The Endangered Heritage Program of the World Monuments Fund
• Conclusions and Recommendations
• Closing Remarks
• Sponsors
• Addresses

Vishakha N. Desai is Vice President for Cultural and Interdepartmental Programs and Director of the Galleries, Asia Society.

Miguel Angel Corzo is Director of the Getty Conservation Institute.

Nicholas Platt is President of the Asia Society, U.S.A.

Rear Admiral Usni Pramoj is representative of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit

Anand Panyarachun, the former prime minister of Thailand, is Chairman and Chief Executive Office of Saha-Union Corporation Ltd., Chairman of the Council of Trustees, Thailand Environment Institute, and Chairman of the Thailand Business Council for Sustainable Development.