BEIJING - Senior Chinese official Li Changchun on Tuesday called for better protecting intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and integrating it into tourism in a bid to promote the cultural sector's development.

Li, a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks after touring an exhibition on China's protection of intangible cultural heritage at a new exhibition hall of the National Agriculture Exhibition Center.

Li noted that the integration is the most active and efficient way to obtain sustainable development of the country's ICH, calling for further implementing the ICH law and well integrating economic and social benefit in the protection and exploitation of ICH.

Li also stressed the importance of innovating protection ways and perfecting rewards measures.

Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, the exhibition showcased the achievements in China's ICH protection in recent years, attracting more than 150,000 audience since it kicked off on February 5.