The Committee,

1. Having examined document LHE/21/16.COM/7.a,
2. Recalling Chapter V of the Operational Directives and its Decisions COM 14.03 and 12.COM 8.c.3,
3. Expresses its appreciation to China for submitting its second report on the status of the element ‘Traditional design and practices for building Chinese wooden arch bridges’, inscribed in 2009 on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, which was initially due for submission by 15 December 2017;
4. Takes note of the efforts described in the report submitted by China to safeguard the element, in particular through supporting an increasing number of bearers of the element, enhancing its documentation, research and transmission and sustaining the cultural functions and customary practices related to the use of the Chinese wooden arch bridges;
5. Invites the State Party to continue its safeguarding efforts by providing support to the bearers of the element and encouraging its transmission and practice, raising awareness about it, and protecting the respective natural environment;
6. Encourages the State Party to develop approaches to address the threats to the viability of the element, such as the lack of enthusiasm among youth to learn the element and the scarcity of timber required for building and renovating the bridges, and to integrate these into the updated safeguarding plan;
7. Further takes note of the planned promotion of building Chinese wooden arch bridges to other regions and the economic activities generated through the element, and recalls the importance of addressing the potential risk of decontextualization of the element with regard to its cultural functions and associated customary practices;
8. Also takes note that the Secretariat informed the State Party nine months prior to the deadline of 15 December 2021 about the required submission of its third report on the status of this element, and further encourages the State Party to submit it on time.