Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday called on the international community to strengthen protection of world heritage properties, describing the mission "imperative" to all in the world.

Hu made the remark in a message of congratulation to the opening of the 28th Session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC), which is held in Suzhou in east China's Jiangsu province from June 28 to July 7.

The message was read by Chinese State Councilor Chen Zhili at the opening ceremony.

The world heritage protection is "both a lofty historical obligation and a necessary requirement to maintain the continuation of human civilization and realize a sustainable development," he said.

The Chinese president noted that every country has its unique cultural and natural heritages, which are not only a precious legacy of a country or a nationality, but also treasures of mankind.

However, many valuable cultural and natural heritages have been eroded after a long history or have suffered damages by human activities, while some have even been on the brink of being fully ruined, Hu said.

"It is an imperative task for the international community to strengthen protection of world heritage properties," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 28, 2004)