China calls for better protection of cultural relics

BEIJING -- The State Council, China's Cabinet, called for better protection for the nation's cultural relics and stronger law enforcement in an instruction published Tuesday.

According to the document signed by Premier Li Keqiang, protection of cultural relics will be included in the evaluation of local officials.

It requires authorities to act on crime related to cultural relics.

China has been striving to protect its past since reform began in 1978. The 1982 Cultural Relics Protection Law created institutional guarantees and various local regulations have sprung up since.

In recent years, unmovable cultural relics were disappearing at a faster pace and responsibility of protecting them was not effectively delineated, though remarkable achievements had been made, said Liu Yuzhu, head of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

According to the document, annual evaluations should be carried out to learn the condition of cultural relics, in addition to annual renovations.

It proposes better protection in construction work, underscoring the need for archaeological surveys, exploration and excavation.

The document also calls for an improved registration system and database of resources.

Measures and policies should encourage people to protect cultural relics and nurture social organizations focused on the mission.

NGOs should be encouraged to collect cultural relics, and more museums should be given financial support to provide free admission.

The central government issued a notice in early 2008, calling for free admission at most state museums and memorial sites.