Li Jinbin, vice-governor of northeast China's Jilin Province, said Thursday his province would do what it can to protect the Koguryo relics, now on the World Heritage List.

"The listing of the relics of the Koguryo kingdom not only brings great honor to us, but also endows us with great historic responsibilities. As the seat of this world heritage, we will intensify our efforts in protecting and managing the historic sites and safeguarding the cultural gems of humanity," he said.

The over 2,000-year-old capital cities and tombs for both kings and nobles belonging to the ancient Koguryo kingdom are important parts of the Koguryo civilization.

"We'll strictly follow the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage to protect the historic sites," said Li.

The 28th conference of the World Heritage Committee decided on Thursday to inscribe the Koguryo relics in northeast China on the World Heritage List. The conference began on June 28 and will end on July 7 in Suzhou, a scenic city in east China's Jiangsu Province.
 
(Xinhua News Agency July 2, 2004)