Underwater cultural heritage is an important part of China's historical and cultural heritage. The reporter learned from the State Administration of Cultural Relics that in order to better protect, inherit and utilize underwater cultural heritage, the South China Sea underwater archaeological base of the State Administration of Cultural Relics was officially listed recently. Li Qun, deputy minister of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and director of the State Administration of Cultural Relics, said that the South China Sea is the largest sea area in China with the richest underwater cultural heritage, and an important section of the Maritime Silk Road. The State Administration of Cultural Relics will strive to cultivate the South China Sea Base into a new model of central and local co-construction and ministerial and provincial cooperation, build a new platform integrating the functions of underwater cultural relics investigation and protection, underwater archaeology, underwater cultural relics restoration, and personnel training, and create a new highland to gather the scientific and technological elements of underwater cultural relics, lead the world's scientific and technological frontier of underwater cultural relics, and innovate China's archaeological practice. It is reported that the South China Sea Base is planned to cover an area of 74 mu, with a total construction area of 31085 square meters. It is distributed in two lines, one axis and four areas, including comprehensive management building, scientific research building, hull repair workshop and training building. (Xinhua News Agency)