The third Grand Canal of China International Forum opens in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, on Dec 7. [Photo/Xinhua]

The third Grand Canal of China International Forum, a gathering of invited Grand Canal culture experts and overseas dignitaries opened in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Dec 7.

Focusing on the development opportunities of the Grand Canal, the forum, co-organized by Hangzhou Municipal Government and the Information Office of Zhejiang Provincial People's Government, aimed to bring together canal cities worldwide to explore the conservation of the canal.

Running more than 1,700 kilometers from Beijing to Hangzhou, the Grand Canal is the longest and oldest waterway in the world and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.

David Pickus, author of Postcards from China: Travels along the Grand Canal and associate professor at Zhejiang University addresses the third Grand Canal of China International Forum in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Dec 7. [Photo/Xinhua]

David Pickus, author of Postcards from China: Travels along the Grand Canal and associate professor at Zhejiang University addressed the forum.

He noted that the Grand Canal has a longer history than canals in other countries, and suggested that more people should be involved in the preservation of the ancient canal so as to raise its international profile.