(File Photo/CGTN)

The State Council on Wednesday issued a guideline to better protect cultural relics in China.

As spiritual and cultural symbols of Chinese civilization, cultural relics serve as an embodiment of national memory, thus protecting cultural relics is protecting the county's history, according to the guideline.

However, the illegal dealing, collecting and auctioning of cultural relics has been frequent in recent years, which shows a lack of supervision and loopholes in protection work, according to the guideline.

The guideline said that governments at all levels should fulfill their duties in the local management and security of cultural relics, and strengthen law enforcement protection.

It said the accountability system for the security of relics needed to improve, and areas related to protection, including customs, tourism and religious authorities, should work together to crack down on related crime.

Modern science and technology should also play a bigger part in improving the protection of cultural relics, while relevant laws and regulations should be further publicized, the guidelines suggested.

The guideline also underlined the need to strengthen supervision of protection work, and to take stronger action against those accountable for the damage, loss or theft of relics.