India and China Explore Joint UNESCO Bid Honouring Monk Xuanzang’s Legacy

• India and China in early discussions for joint UNESCO nomination on Xuanzang.

• Proposal may cover Buddhist knowledge transfer, pilgrimage routes, oral traditions.

• Focus on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage framework.

• Move seen as cultural diplomacy amid ongoing diplomatic stabilisation.

• No timeline yet; consultations and documentation underway.

India and China have begun preliminary discussions on the possibility of jointly approaching UNESCO to secure recognition for the shared cultural legacy of the 7th-century Chinese monk Xuanzang. According to officials aware of the development, Beijing initiated contact through diplomatic channels, signalling interest in preparing a joint nomination under UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) framework. New Delhi has responded positively, and internal deliberations are currently in progress.

As part of these early efforts, an Indian delegation is expected to travel to China in the coming weeks for consultations. The talks are likely to centre on identifying traditions, narratives and locations associated with Xuanzang that could meet UNESCO’s criteria for intangible heritage recognition.

Xuanzang—also known as Hiuen Tsang—journeyed from China to the Indian subcontinent in the 7th century during the reign of Emperor Harsha. His travels spanned territories that today fall within India, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh. He spent time at Nalanda, the renowned monastic university, where he studied Buddhist philosophy. His detailed travelogues have since become invaluable sources for understanding the political structures, social practices and religious life of early medieval India.

Officials indicated that any joint nomination may encompass living traditions connected to the transmission of Buddhist teachings, pilgrimage pathways retracing Xuanzang’s route, and oral histories preserved within monasteries and local communities. Both governments are assessing how these elements can be framed as continuing cultural practices rather than historical relics, in keeping with UNESCO’s emphasis on living heritage.

Adopted under the 2003 Convention, UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list recognises traditions, performing arts, rituals and knowledge systems that communities actively sustain and pass down through generations. Unlike the World Heritage List, which focuses on monuments and sites, the ICH framework centres on practices and expressions. The list now includes hundreds of entries from more than 150 countries, with collaborative nominations between multiple states becoming increasingly common.

India ratified the 2003 Convention in 2005 and currently counts 16 elements on UNESCO’s Representative List, including yoga, the Kumbh Mela and Durga Puja. It has also participated in multinational nominations such as Nowruz, celebrated across several countries. Joint submissions require participating nations to agree on documentation, preservation strategies and evidence of community involvement. Beyond heritage preservation, such efforts are often viewed as tools of soft power and cultural engagement.

Officials cautioned that aligning perspectives on the historical narrative and shared ownership of cultural elements would be essential for any India-China submission. Multinational nominations typically demand extensive coordination and consensus-building.

The outreach comes amid cautious efforts by both countries to stabilise relations following tensions triggered by the 2020 border standoff along the Line of Actual Control. Diplomatic and military dialogue has continued through established mechanisms, even as broader strategic issues remain unresolved.

Observers familiar with cultural diplomacy note that collaboration in multilateral settings such as UNESCO offers a relatively low-risk avenue for engagement. Cultural partnerships have, in the past, served as symbolic gestures of dialogue without directly addressing more contentious political disputes.

Nonetheless, officials emphasised that the initiative is still at a formative stage. Preparing a nomination dossier requires detailed documentation, proof of community consent and participation, and a clear safeguarding plan to ensure continuity of the tradition. Submissions are evaluated by UNESCO-appointed bodies before being considered by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Joint proposals add additional layers of coordination between the participating states.

Sources said upcoming discussions will involve cataloguing relevant material from archives, monasteries and academic institutions in both countries. India is expected to review documentation related to Nalanda and other sites linked to Xuanzang’s stay, while China will draw upon its historical records and preserved traditions.

Consultations may also extend to religious institutions and local communities associated with the proposed elements, as UNESCO guidelines require demonstrated community endorsement.

There is currently no set timeline for submitting a joint dossier. Greater clarity is anticipated after the Indian delegation’s visit and further rounds of engagement.

Should the proposal advance, it would represent a notable example of India and China working together on a cultural initiative at a multilateral platform, even as their broader relationship continues to be shaped by unresolved strategic differences.