The Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Finance jointly issued a notice to call for the improvement of the protection of Chinese folk cultural heritage.

The notice urged local governments to further their job of folk culture protection.

The notice said much of China's precious cultural heritage was on the verge of extinction due to constant environmental deterioration and the side effects of modernization.

The notice described protection of folk culture heritage as "the important duty" of local governments at all levels, urging more funding and attempts to attract capital from society.

Previously, the Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Finance worked out an implementation project which stipulates that the salvage of endangered cultural heritage should be finished before 2008.

From 2008 to 2013, the salvage of other important cultural heritage should be conducted. From 2014 to 2020, supplementary work will be done.

The Ministry of Finance has earmarked a total of 6 million yuan exclusively for the run-up of the implementation project.

(Xinhua News Agency April 15, 2004)