To explore the contemporary values of the Yellow River culture and the development path for its protection and inheritance, scholars, experts and officials from across the country gathered on Tuesday in Dongying, Shandong province — where the river flows into the sea — for a two-day forum.

Snaking through nine provinces and autonomous regions across North China, the 5,464-kilometer Yellow River is an age-old witness to the nation's history. As the cradle of Chinese culture, the Yellow River basin has been the political, economic and cultural center of China.

Its rich history and unique traditions have imbued the diverse cultural and tourism resources along the river in Shandong with profound meaning, Shahbaz Khan, director and representative of UNESCO's Beijing office said in a video speech to the forum.

"Certainly, it needs acknowledgement from social, cultural, economic and environmental dimensions which have been established over more than 3,000 years," he said.

A cooperation agreement for communication among the nine provinces and regions along the river was signed at the opening ceremony of the forum. They will join hands in promoting Yellow River culture in several sectors, including revolutionary culture, tourism and the protection and utilization of cultural relics.