China to enact Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Law

China's first "Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Law" is expected to be enacted in the near future, which will provide legal basis for ICH protection.

When attending the forum on productive protection of intangible cultural heritage, Vice Minister of Culture (MOC) Zhou Heping said that China will soon promulgate the first special law for ICH protection. Now it has entered the legislative process.

He said the Chinese government will continue to take a variety of measures to protect intangible cultural heritage, including effective use of legal means and foreign experiences.

It is learnt that the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council started to make investigations and preparations on ICH legislation in 2007. The legislative plan of 11th National People’s Congress also listed ICH protection law as one of the 64 legislative projects last year. [Chinese version is available on Farmer Daiy]