Action needed to preserve the past

Top-level guidance

On July 6, national-level advice on strengthening reform on the protection and use of cultural heritage was given in a document at a meeting of the Central Comprehensively Deepening Reforms Commission, chaired by President Xi.

In the document, the safety of cultural heritage remains a priority, but more tailored management and design of systems are demanded.

"Attention should be paid to make cultural heritage resources come alive," the document stated. "Development is part of protection, and protection is part of development."

Legislators at national level have been urged to reconsider the heritage law.

The State Administration of Cultural Heritage held a meeting on July 9, which called for "more creativity in forming new theories". It urged that a new system be set up for "social participation" in such work and that grassroots protection teams be expanded.

Peng Yuehui, director of the administration's policy research office, said amendments are planned to the cultural relics protection law. The draft will probably be handed to the National People's Congress in 2020.

With 766,722 immovable cultural heritage sites registered by the administration in the most recent national survey, Peng said it is unimaginable that a national team can shoulder such a huge burden, so more participation from the public is needed.

"It's still a tough mission to get the wider efforts made in protecting and using cultural heritage recognized by law," he said.

"We have to walk step by step. Only through closer cooperation between the government and society can policies be more accurately made."