The Asian Cultural Heritage Protection Alliance approved Kazakhstan as an observer country and Egypt as a partner country during the fourth meeting of its council, 新华网客户端 reports. The session is being held in Hangzhou, in China's eastern Zhejiang province, and the decision was announced on Sunday, October 18.
With the two additions, the alliance now counts 26 members across its three tiers — member countries, observer countries and partner countries, according to 新华网客户端. The report did not specify how many countries fall into each category.
The Hangzhou gathering is the fourth time the alliance's council has met, 新华网客户端 reports. The report gave no further details on the agenda, the terms attached to either status, or which countries previously held observer or partner standing.
The alliance's expansion comes as countries across Asia and beyond step up cooperation on safeguarding cultural heritage, though the source material did not elaborate on the group's programs or activities.
What to watch next: whether the alliance publishes a fuller account of the Hangzhou meeting, including any decisions beyond the two admissions.