On November 2, 2023, a symposium on the feasibility study of the Xi'an Branch Center of the UNESCO International Center for Space Technologies in Natural and Cultural Heritage (HIST) was held at Northwest University. President Guo Lihong attended the symposium and delivered a speech. The experts of the inspection team consisted of Researcher Wang Xinyuan, Deputy Director of HIST Center, Deputy Secretary General Liu Shaobo, Associate Researcher Yang Ruixia, and Associate Researcher Luo Lei, Director of the Research Department. Relevant persons in charge of the Party and University Office, Human Resources Department, Science and Technology Department, Social Science Department, International Department, School of Urban and Environment, School of Cultural Heritage, Silk Road Archaeology Cooperative Research Center and teachers' representatives attended the meeting. The symposium was presided over by Wu Zhenlei, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of the university and vice president.

President Guo Lihong welcomed the delegation in his speech. He introduced the basic situation of the university and the work related to Silk Road archaeology and cultural heritage protection, and said that the university will give full play to the advantages of archaeology, geosciences, information science and technology and other related disciplines, and integrate the Xi'an Branch Center and the Silk Road Archaeology Cooperative Research Center in a deep and integrated way, and strive to cultivate first-rate talents, produce first-rate results, and make greater contributions to the protection of world heritage and the promotion of the region's economic and social development. We will strive to cultivate first-class talents, produce first-class results, and make greater contributions to the protection of world heritage and the promotion of regional economic and social development.

Researcher Xinyuan Wang expressed his gratitude to Northwestern University for the well-organized study tour and introduced to the participants the main tasks of the visit to the university and briefly explained the positioning and significance of the construction of the Xi'an sub-center.

President Ma Jian reported the preparation of HIST Xi'an Branch Center from the aspects of background, target orientation, construction foundation, mechanism guarantee and future planning.

The experts of the inspection team affirmed the preparatory work of HIST Xi'an Subcenter, focused on the future construction and development of the subcenter, and put forward constructive opinions from promoting the construction of space archaeology discipline system construction, international exchange and cooperation, talent cultivation, and the display of achievements.

Vice President Wu Zhenlei briefly responded to the team from the aspects of seeking provincial support, mechanism guarantee, development space and financial support in the light of the preliminary preparatory work of Xi'an Subcenter.

President Guo Lihong emphasized in his concluding speech that he hoped HIST Xi'an Branch Center could be settled in Northwest University and Xi'an as soon as possible, and that in the subsequent preparations for the establishment and development of the Branch Center, under the guidance of HIST headquarters, the Branch Center would bravely take up the mission of cultural heritage protection entrusted by UNESCO, and adhere to the high-end positioning, the advantages of latecomer development, and the advantages of comprehensive interdisciplinary cross-disciplinary advantages, so as to make a special feature, demonstration, and a leader. The university will adhere to the development concept of “special zone” and do its best to support and guarantee the work.

Before the meeting, the delegation also went to the School of Cultural Heritage and the Silk Road Archaeology Cooperative Research Center to investigate the experimental platform and office space for the support of disciplines in preparation for the establishment of the sub-center.