Given the impossibility of holding a meeting in present due to the extreme exceptional circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, the World Heritage Committee decided that this session will take place as a fully online meeting from 16 to 31 July 2021. 

The session will be presided over from Fuzhou by His Excellency Mr Tian Xuejun, Vice Minister of Education and Chair of the National Commission of the People's Republic of China for UNESCO, Chairperson of the extended 44th session of World Heritage Committee. The opening ceremony of the session will be held in Fuzhou (China) and will be live streamed for all participants by the Host Country.