Beijing extends protection for great wall
( 2002-07-17 09:08 ) (8 )

The Beijing cultural heritage administration Relics has signed a memo with the International Friends of the Great Wall, outlining a scheme of cooperation to protect the parts of the wall in Beijing.

The scheme includes a management plan for the 629-kilometer- long wall, regulations for demolishing buildings within 200 meters to the wall and the idea of employing locals to act as environmental protection keepers.

Meanwhile, under the memo, the non-governmental association will provide equipment and a working environment for experts to carry out research and supervision for programs concerned with cultural relics.

William Lindesay, founder of the association, maintains the natural features around the Great Wall are an integral part of the wall and should be added to the entire relic's protection list.

The 45-year-old Englishman has been in China for 12 years and has spent more than 500 days on the Great Wall. He mobilized volunteers from overseas to clean the wall in 1998 and aroused public concern over problems associated with the relics.