Senior Chinese official Li Changchun Monday called for doing a good job in protecting China's intangible cultural heritage, noting it's important in many ways, during a visit to an exhibition of achievements in protecting intangible cultural heritage.

"Protection of intangible cultural heritage and maintaining continuity of the national culture constitute an essential cultural base for enhancing cohesion of the nation, boosting the national unity, invigorating the national spirit and safeguarding the national unification," said Li, who is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

Li inspected during his visit musical instruments of the imperial Tang (618-907) and Song (907-1279) dynasties, and ancient looms from Nanjing, and Yangliuqing new year paintings in Tianjin, watched demonstrations of embroidery, clay sculpturing, paper cut and kite making and other items on display, staged in the National Museum of China.

Meanwhile, Li urged the relevant departments to beef up the protection of intangible cultural heritage and enable it to play a still greater and better role in fostering a sound, advanced socialist culture in China.

(Xinhua News Agency February 14, 2006)