Massive infrastructure construction will not destroy local cultural relics as long as the law is followed closely and supervision tightened, said experts at the ongoing Fourth Session of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC).

Han Wei, an NPC deputy and head of the Archaeological Research Institute of Shaanxi Province, said local cultural relics bureaux are required to carry out geological and archaeological surveys around construction areas before projects are begun.

"If significant discoveries are made during the surveys, the project has to go around the relics and local cultural relics bureaux have to excavate them, according to current laws," said Han.

Several big projects are expected to kick off this year as part of the nation's strategy to develop the western regions, including the construction of a 4,000-kilometre gas pipeline from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to Shanghai, a 1,118-kilometre-long Qinghai-Tibet Railway and a west-to-east power transmission project, not to mention the ongoing Three Gorges project.

"The expense of the surveys must be covered by project operators, and the government will give extra funds to significant discoveries," Han added.

Han warned, however, that operators failing to abide by the law may pose a threat to relics, especially at county level, where government supervision is relatively loose.

Considering that tourism is one of the main industries being supported in the west, it is essential to protect the relics as well as their environs, he said.

Zhang Zhongpei, an official of the Archaeological Society of China, said it is expected that many relics will be discovered as the big projects in the west get under way.

He urged the government to invest more in the exploration and rescue of relics in the area, adding that more supervisory powers should be granted to archaeological departments to enforce relevant laws and regulations.

He suggested that important sites should not be tampered with at present due to the present insufficient level of technology and funds for dealing with them properly.

Xie Zhensheng, former director of the State Bureau of Cultural Relics, said the government should be careful about the theft of relics during the construction of the projects.

"The lack of public concern for the protection of relics and the shortage of specialists make it possible for these things to happen," he said.

Xie called on the whole society to reinforce supervision to better protect relics.

Luo Zhewen, a senior adviser to Xie's bureau, also said government departments such as national security departments and customs should spare no efforts in cracking down on the theft and smuggling of relics.

(China Daily 03/15/2001)