China adopts law to improve public cultural services

BEIJING - Chinese lawmakers on Sunday adopted new legislation to improve cultural services.

The National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee approved the law after three readings.

The law, which will go into effect on March 1, 2017, aims to carry forward the traditions of Chinese culture and cultural confidence.

Public cultural services must be people-oriented and "guided by socialist core values," according to the law.

County-level governments and above must improve community cultural service centers, build more of them and offer more products online.

Private funds will be invited to finance public cultural facilities.

Authorities in rural areas must provide more books, newspapers, magazines, opera performances, movies, radio programs and online information, as well as festivals and sporting activities to ensure equal service in urban and rural areas.

Public services should serve special groups such as minors, the elderly, the disabled and migrant workers. They must also ensure quality services in revolutionary bases, ethnic, border and impoverished areas.

The state will translate cultural products into minority languages in ethnic regions, and encourage ethnic cultural products and sports.

International cooperation and exchanges should be expanded.

It is rare in China for a law or an amendment to go through three readings before being passed. One exception was the property law, which was passed in March 2007 after eight readings.

At a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Liu Binjie, head of the NPC education, science, culture and public health committee, said the top legislature will draft a law on the cultural industry and another on libraries. It will also work on amending the law on copyright and protection of cultural relics.