China to shoulder more responsibility for heritage protection, says official

Gulangyu, an island off the coast of Xiamen, Fujian province. [Photo/VCG]

"It is certainly gratifying to see the inscription number growing," Liu said. "But more tasks are lying in front of us. We need to focus more on establishing management plans and setting up reporting systems at sites to safeguard these places."

"China boasts a large number of tangible heritage sites with unique styles and great cultural value. UNESCO's World Heritage and China have always shared a strong tie. Since the ratification of the World Heritage Convention in 1985, we have been nominating properties for inscription on the World Heritage List," Liu said.

Liu also called for more international communication and cooperation in terms of regulations and laws, technical support and professional training.

"To further develop China's cause of relic preservation, we need to learn from other countries and draw referential experiences," he said.