Ecuador and China decided Wednesday to crack down on the smuggling of cultural relics from both nations.

Ecuadorian Assistant Secretary of Heritage Polo Segarra said more than US$100 million were earmarked for rescuing archeological sites in Ecuador, home to an estimated two million cultural relics. This budget would increase in the coming years.

Both countries have long histories of thousands of years and have rich cultural heritages, so "it is a duty of our governments to protect them," said Dong Baohua, visiting deputy director of China's State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

China hopes to cooperate and exchange ideas and experiences with Ecuador to fight against smuggling of historical relics, he added.

Dong said China is investing US$14.91 million for preservation and protection of cultural heritage.

(Xinhua News Agency September 23, 2010)