The Chinese government places high importance on the development of museums, senior Chinese official Li Changchun said Tuesday.

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remark during his meeting with President of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) Jacques Perot and his entourage in Beijing.

Perot is currently in Beijing to mark International Museum Day, which falls on May 18 and to attend the 2004 Expo of museums and related products and technology held from May 18 to 21.

In recent years, the cause of museum development in China has entered an era of fast growth, Li said. The museums play an important role in preserving, inheriting and carrying forward fine cultural traditions of the Chinese nation.

The development of museums is of pivotal significance to the spread of scientific knowledge and the promotion of international cultural exchanges, Li acknowledged.

Li noted that museums are crucial venues for the people to learn about national history and culture, cultivate patriotism, raise national spirit and strengthen development of ideological civilization.

He went on to say that the modern museum development should serve the concurrent times by revealing history, and the museum development requires more attention to be paid on people and facilitate the all-round development of human beings.

Perot said he had witnessed many International Museum Day activities, but Beijing impressed him deeply with its excellent commemorating activities.

Founded in 1946, the ICOM is the largest professional organization of museums around the world.

(Xinhua News Agency May 19, 2004)