The lawmakers have ratified a convention on protecting cultural
diversity at the 25th session of the 10th Standing Committee of the
National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing Friday.
The convention aims to protect and promote cultural diversity,
increasing the abilities of developing countries in this regard
through dialogue and international cooperation.
It also reiterates the rights of a state to take measures to
protect the cultural diversity on its territory.
The convention, as well as the Convention for the Safeguarding
of the Intangible Culture Heritage and the Convention Concerning
the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, form the
international law system in protecting world heritage and cultural
diversity.
Ratification would help China protect its cultures and promote
the development of a cultural industry, so reverse an imbalance in
cultural trade, said Culture Minister Sun Jiazheng.
Gao Jianping, a research fellow from the Chinese Academy of
Social Sciences, said the government should invite experts to
explain the convention to the general public, brief them on the
background and cases, so as to help raise awareness.
The convention was passed at the 33rd session of the General
Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in October 2005, and will come into
effect three months after 30 countries ratify it.
Since 35 countries had ratified the convention by December 18,
it will take effect on March 18, 2007.
The regular NPC Standing Committee session closed in Beijing on
December 29.
(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2006)
