The Workshop of Comparative Studies on World Canals & BIBF Virtual Meeting for Authors of Phoenix Series on World Canals, organized by Phoenix Media, was held online on Sept 27.

David Edwards-May, president of Inland Waterways International (IWI), Deng Qing, secretary-general of the World Historic and Cultural Canal Cities Cooperation Organization (WCCO), Yan Haiming, deputy director of the World Heritage Center of China, Li Dan, representative of WCCO, and other international canal experts from France, the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US), Canada, Belgium, and China were invited to discuss canal history and culture as well as the protection and management of canals online.

"Canals have been used by countless civilizations throughout history; the online workshop is meant to promote meaningful discussion of different canal cultures throughout the world," noted Jean-Pierre GAILLIEZ, expert at the Belgian Canal du Center.

Xu Hai, editor-in-chief of Phoenix Publishing and Media Inc, said that Phoenix Media is dedicated to producing and broadcasting quality content around the world, and is seeking to form a professional canal publishing brand.

Xu believes that canals have played a pivotal role in the development of human civilizations, and that comparative studies on world canals can not only lead to a better understanding of them, but also promote the continued preservation of canal history and culture.

The publication of the "Phoenix Series on World Canals" by Phoenix Media was announced at the workshop; it is part of the Jiangsu branch of the Smart Beijing International Book Fair.

International canal experts will be invited to participate in the series and discuss the history of canals, as well as their protection and management. The first book in the series will focus on Canal du Midi in France, Erie Canal in the US, Rideau Canal in Canada, Grand Union Canal in the UK, Canal du Center in Belgium, and canals in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

May congratulated Phoenix Media beforehand on the successful publication of the "Phoenix Series on World Canals", saying that the series is of great value.

He also commended the online workshop, saying that bringing canal experts together to share their ideas can offer important lessons for future canal studies.