China builds system to protect ICH

　　By the end of last year, China had already set up an elementary database and a detailed list of intangible cultural heritage at the national, province, city and county levels. The country will gradually form a safeguarding system to protect intangible cultural heritage with Chinese characteristics.

　　Zhou Heping, deputy Culture Minister, said that the Chinese government has always attached great importance to the protection of intangible cultural heritage. In promoting traditional Chinese culture, the government has made many efforts and scored significant achievements.

　　In August, 2004, China joined the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, becoming one of the few member countries included by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

　　The General Office of the State Council issued a document that gives some suggestions on the safeguarding of China's intangible cultural heritage and calls for the establishment of a protective system with Chinese characteristics. Last May, the government completed the first list of intangible cultural heritage at the county-level, and the application programme to sort out the second batch of intangible cultural heritage is now underway. At the same time, China has been begun to enrich the lists at province, city and county levels.