JAKARTA (Yonhap News) ― A regional consultative body to safeguard intangible cultural heritage in 11 Southeast Asian countries was launched in Jakarta Monday under South Korea’s initiative.

The launch took place during a sub-regional meeting of the International Information and Networking Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region.

The Daejeon-based center, affiliated with South Korea’s Cultural Heritage Administration, was established in July 2011 as an a “category 2 center” under the auspices of UNESCO to protect intangible cultural heritage in the Asia-Pacific region. 

The two-day meeting began Monday to share information on the current status and issues relating to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in the region and to discuss how to strengthen collaboration, with a focus on information and networking, the ICHCAP said.

The meeting brought together top officials who oversee intangible cultural heritage affairs in 11 Southeast Asian nations ― Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor and Vietnam.

Some 40 officials from UNESCO’s Asian Secretariat and regional offices in Jakarta and Bangkok, and experts from pertinent non-governmental organizations also attended.

They will adopt an action plan for future regional collaboration to safeguard intangible cultural heritage at the end of the two-day meeting, according to the organizer.