China calls for better protection of cultural relics

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

According to the document, which was signed by Premier Li Keqiang, efforts to protect cultural relics will be included in the performance evaluation of local officials.

It requires authorities to deepen coordination on cracking down on crimes related to cultural relics amid efforts to improving law enforcement.

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

The document also calls for efforts to improve a registration system of cultural relics and establish a database of resources.

Measures and policies should be worked out to encourage the society to take part in protection of cultural relics and nurture social organizations focused on the mission, it reads.

Non-governmental organizations should be also encouraged to collect cultural relics, according to the document, which suggests more museums should be given financial support so they can provide free admissions.

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

The document stressed efforts to protect cultural relics should be made to nurture and uphold core socialist values, in addition to boosting social and economic development and enhancing the influence of Chinese culture. Endi