China, Mongolia to protect traditional long-song

ULAN BATOR -- China and Mongolia agreed Thursday to conduct a field survey on the traditional long-song, a major form of Mongolian song, over the next two years.

The decision was made during the second conference of the long-song protection committee of China and Mongolia, which was held in Ulan Bator on Thursday.

The joint protection of the long-song is important for the heritage of the traditional culture of Mongolians, Zhou Heping, China's vice minister of culture, said at the conference.

The long-song, part of Chinese and Mongolian culture, was classified as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2005.

China and Mongolia have devised and completed a protection program for the long-song for the next 10 years.