China plans a new round of nationwide compilation of its local historical, social, economic and demographic archives to reflect societal changes over the past two decades.

Chen Kuiyuan, president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), said here Thursday, continuous updating of archival documents compiled by ancient Chinese helps to maintain traditional Chinese culture during rapidly changing times.

Chen encouraged experts and scholars to compile high-quality new archival materials for future generations.

CASS has set up a coordinating group that includes the country's most prominent historians, archaeologists, geographers, sociologists and economists.

Qin Qiming, secretary-general of the coordinating group, said the newly-compiled archival documents will provide accounts of natural, social and anthropological records of every county throughout the country. They should reflect the profound changes and historic achievements in the drive toward modernization.

The coordinating group plans to build a computerized database of archival documents.

The first compilation of archival records began in the 1980s. By 2005, 83.2 percent of 32 provincial-level governments had completed the compilation, as well as 90.6 percent of cities and 94.6 percent of counties.

Legislation on archival compilation has been included in the State Council plan for legislation proposals in 2006. According to the legislation documents should be complied every two decades.

China has a 2,000-year history of compiling archival documents.

(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2006)