THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND TOURISM and the National Cultural Heritage Administration have jointly published a plan for the protection of the Great Wall. Beijing Youth Daily comments:

The document clarifies key points and the overall strategy for protection of the Great Wall for the first time, and will serve as a guideline to the forming of a long-term work mechanism.

The document makes it clear that, without authorization, volunteers and social organizations are not allowed to move or remove parts of the Great Wall that have fallen or collapsed, and are not permitted to repair the Great Wall and cultural relics affiliated to it, so as to avoid damaging the Great Wall.

Statistics shows that 24.1 percent of the 21,196-kilometer Great Wall－which was built on and off by different dynasties from the West Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC-771 BC) to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) as a fortification against invaders from the north－h(huán)as almost disappeared because of natural weathering, vandalism and shoddy renovation work.

Recognized as part of the world cultural heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1987, the Great Wall is regarded as a symbol of the Chinese national spirit. But except the sections that have been opened as tourism attractions, most sections of the Great Wall lack appropriate protection because of the lack of funds, manpower and a national guideline.

Some volunteers have acted as an important power in repairing and protecting the Great Wall. But still, it is necessary for the authorities to act as often the volunteers, who lack the necessary technical equipment and professional knowledge, have done more harm than good, and caused irreparable damage to the Great Wall.

The plan stipulates that volunteers or social organizations may not repair the Great Wall and its affiliated cultural relics without authorization. Perhaps in the eyes of some people, this is a blow to the enthusiasm of volunteers to protect the Great Wall. But in fact, such a regulation is necessary and will help better protect the Great Wall.

China respects the important roles of volunteers and social organizations for protection of the Great Wall. The key point of the plan is to require them to gain approval of the authorities first, which is necessary to ensure only suitable hands are allowed to engage in the professional work.