A total of 28 papers on heritage protection written by Chinese experts will be presented on the 15th general assembly of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) in October.

The number of Chinese papers accounts for one sixth of the total number of articles selected by ICOMOS, said Dinu Bumbaru, secretary general of ICOMOS, in Beijing on Sunday.

ICOMOS, an international NGO of professionals, is dedicated to the conservation of the world's historic monuments and sites. It provides a forum for professional dialogue and a vehicle for collection, evaluation, and dissemination of information on conservation principles, techniques, and policies.

The ICOMOS 15th General Assembly and scientific symposium is scheduled to take place in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province during Oct. 17-21 this year.

Bumbaru and other Chinese experts have been invited to Beijing to attend a meeting for the preparation of the conference in Xi'an.

Topics including protection of large relic sites, cultural exchange routes, relic sites in metropolis and underwater archaeology will be the focus of attention at the conference, said Chen Tongbin, head of the Institute of Architectural History under China Architecture Design and Research Group.

In the selected articles, Chinese experts put forward their advice on how to solve the problems in heritage protection such as urbanization and natural disasters.

Chen focused on the concept of large relic sites protection, referring to the conservation of remains of the ancient city and ancient building complex.

Huang Kezhong, former vice director of China Cultural Relics Research Institute, said experts are investigating the impact of industrial shakes to ancient buildings, and will offer their suggestion to government to make relevant regulations to minimize the shakes caused by railways and highways close to heritage sites.

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2005)