Speaking at the festival's opening ceremony, Luo Shugang, minister of culture and tourism, said the Chinese government actively implements the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the festival is a platform promoting the convention, showcasing colorful intangible cultural heritage from different countries and exchanging cultural protection experience.

The convention was adopted on Oct 17, 2003, after the general conference of UNESCO in Paris.

Since May 2007, the festival has been held in Chengdu every two years under the patronage of UNESCO.