The 22nd General Assembly of the International Council of Museums will be held in Shanghai in 2010 - the first time it has been held in China since the council was established in 1946.

The framework agreement was assigned between ICOM International and ICOM Shanghai yesterday at Shanghai Museum.

"Running from November 7 to 12, the 22nd General Assembly will cover an open forum, a trade and institutional fair, and a series of meetings for members from different countries to discuss the conservation, continuation and communication of the world's natural and cultural heritage," said Alissandra Cummins, ICOM president.

''The theme of 2010 will be the responsibilities of museums for a harmonious society," Cummins said.

In 2006, Shanghai obtained the hosting rights to ICOM 2010 in a vote in Paris by ICOM's consultative members.

"The meeting almost coincided with the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai," said Zhang Wenbing, ICOM China president. "We hope that this meeting can echo with the theme of the Expo."

The General Assembly of ICOM is held every three years. ICOM is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization with formal links to UNESCO and consultative status with the United Nations' Economic and Social Council. It has more than 21,000 members from more than 145 member countries.

(Shanghai Daily December 4, 2008)