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The Purpose of the World Heritage Convention (The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage) is to establish an organization for the purpose of international cooperation and assistance in regard to protecting cultural and natural heritage which is of outstanding universal value to mankind from the threat of damage and destruction and to conserve this heritage for future generations.

This convention was adopted at the 17th session of the General Conference of UNESCO in 1972. The convention was concluded by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, China and other countries. Besides China, such Asian countries as Korea, Thailand and Indonesia have already joined the convention as well. Japan accented the convention in June1992, to become the 126th state to become party to the convention. The convention provides for the establishment of the World Heritage Committee within UNESCO, the establishment of the World Heritage Fund, the compiling of a World Heritage List and so on.