Chinese governments at all levels will increase their investment in public cultural undertakings in a bid to meet the growing demand of the general public to the maximum for cultural consumption for better human development, a senior Chinese leader has said.

Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, said China will continue its reform of its cultural institutions so as to enable them to better serve the general public.

During his inspection tour of the National Museum of China, Li said the governments should make better use of their cultural resources to prevent duplicated construction.

Li said all kinds of museums, memorials and exhibition halls should gradually open to middle and primary school students free of charge.

China would pay close attention to the development of public cultural undertakings while doing a good job in promoting a market-oriented cultural sector in a bid to better promote social, economic and human development.
 
(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2004)