Further enhance China's protection of ICH

　　China, as an ancient civilization, is endowed with not only an abundance of tangible cultural heritage but also a great variety of intangible cultural heritage. The Communist Party of China and the state have long attached great importance to the protection of cultural heritage and the promotion of fine traditional culture. Recently, in keeping with the spirit of the 16th CPC Party Congress on supporting the protection of important cultural heritage and fine folk arts and to perform China's obligations after its accession into the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO, the General Office of the State Council promulgated the Recommendations on Intensifying the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage in China, a directive in furthering the protection of intangible cultural heritage in China.

　　The recommendations points out that the rich and diversified cultural heritage created by 56 ethnic groups during their historical course of production and life are a crystallization of the ancient civilization of the Chinese nation, the emotional bond among the Chinese people, and a solid foundation for national unity. The intangible cultural heritage embodies the spiritual values, mentality, imagination and cultural awareness typical of the Chinese people, and stands as a fundamental basis for the maintenance of China's cultural identity and sovereignty. Good protection and utilization of China's intangible cultural heritage bears great importance to the implementation of the scientific approach to development, and the realization of all-around, coordinated and sustainable development of the economy and society, as well as to the promotion of international dialogue among civilizations and the sustainability of all humanity. However, with the acceleration of globalization and modernization, dramatic changes have taken place in China's cultural ecology and China's intangible cultural heritage is confronted with increasingly greater challenges. Intangible cultural heritage, much of which is of great historical and cultural values, orally or behaviorally transmitted, and in danger of disappearing, is crying out for protection. The enhancement of protection for intangible cultural heritage in China brooks no delay.

　　The recommendations further identify the goal, guiding principles and basic approach of China in the protection of intangible cultural heritage. The goal in this respect is to rally the efforts from all walks of life and gradually establish a full-fledged system of Chinese characteristics on the protection of intangible cultural heritage, so that precious and endangered intangible cultural heritage of great historical, cultural and scientific values can be effectively protected, promoted and carried forward. The guiding principle is summarized as protection as priority, rescue as primary, rational utilization, and inheritance for development. The approach includes government leadership, social participation, clarification of duty responsibility, combination of forces, as well as long-term planning, implementation by steps, integrating priorities with entirety, and an emphasis on effect and efficiency.