China has already spent 53 million yuan (US$6.625 million) and 1,000 kilograms of gold to refurnish Potala Palace in Tibet, said an official with State Minority Affairs Commission on Thursday.

The Chinese government has taken measures to enforce its protection of minority cultural relics and heritage and issued a circular on minority culture protection, said Tondrub Wangden, vice director of State Minority Affairs Commission, at a press conference held by the Information Office of the State Council.

The project to maintain the cultural relics and ancient complex in Tibet started in early 2002. The Chinese central government allocated 330 million yuan (US$41.25 million) to amend three ancient relics in Tibet, including the Potala Palace, Norbu Lingka and Sagya Monastery.

Potala Palace, built in the 7th century, has already enlisted in the world cultural heritage list.

(Xinhua News Agency September 22, 2006)