A symposium to promote the legal aspects of the protection of folk and traditional culture in China, and to strengthen international cooperation in the field was held in Beijing on Tuesday.

The symposium was co-sponsored by the Ministry of Culture (MOC) of China, the Education, Science, Culture and Health Committee ( ESCHC) of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China, and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

Vice minister of Culture Meng Xiaosi said at the opening ceremony that folk culture is an important part of our human heritage, and adds to the diversity and creativity of human beings.

She pointed out that folk culture, especially its intangible element, is being destroyed and is rapidly disappearing, which could eventually lead to an imbalance in the cultural ecological system and reduce human creativity.

According to experts, since its founding in 1949, the new China has been dedicated to protecting folk culture by collecting folk literature, establishing folk art files, developing traditional artisan work and supporting artistic styles like Peking Opera and Kunqu.

The folk culture worldwide is now being damaged and is even in danger of extinction due to a lack of artistic professionals. With economic development and social changes, some traditional culture has lost its original flavor. Experts at the symposium called for joint efforts to strengthen legislation which protects endangered folk culture.

Zhu Kaiyan, ECSHC chairman says that the NPC will formulate specific laws on the protection of the intangible culture heritage, based on the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics, and the Copyright Law of the People's Republic of China.

Sources with the MOC say that the MOC has drafted laws on folk culture protection, which clarify the governmental role and the rights and duties of citizens in this area and now has a sound and comprehensive system to work through.

(China Daily December 19, 2001)