Half of the 100-plus properties on China's world heritage preparatory list will be canceled in five to ten years, said Director Shan Jixiang of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage. Shan was speaking at the 28th session of the World Heritage Committee, being held in eastern China's Suzhou.

A strict appraisal system will be formulated to reevaluate the current candidate sites, with the goal of spurring local governments at all levels pay close and careful attention to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage.

A special panel composed of world heritage experts will be established, and all candidate sites must pass the panel's examination before being inscribed on the preparatory list.

"China should have a more integrated system and specific regulations to reevaluate the current preparatory list," said Guo Zhan, of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage. Sites that are poorly managed may be dropped from the list.

In the next five to ten years, a new preparatory list containing fewer than 50 candidate sites will be created, Guo said.

So far, China has 30 properties listed on UNESCO's World Heritage list.

(Xinhua News Agency July 5, 2004)