The new Maritime Silk Road historic site protection circuit court was established on April 26 in Licheng district in Quanzhou, a city in East China's Fujian province, to boost safeguards for the city's cultural heritage resources, local officials said.

A launch ceremony takes place for the new Maritime Silk Road historic site protection circuit court in Quanzhou city’s Licheng distrct. [Photo/qzwb.com]

Officials said that Quanzhou was among the first batch of historical and cultural cities officially identified in the country and is the starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road recognized by the UNESCO. 

The circuit court will be responsible for the trials of criminal, civil, administrative, enforcement and cases related to cultural relic resources and cultural heritage.

Officials said it will train and develop a specialist trial team proficient in cultural relics protection laws and policies.

This will better combat crimes that endanger cultural relics and cultural heritage, as well as better resolve complex property rights disputes encountered in the judicial protection of cultural heritage, they added.

At the launch ceremony, it was also announced that Licheng court will also employ 12 experts with authority in the fields of ancient city protection and development and cultural relics identification. 

Officials said they will play the role of an expert think tank in the trial of related cases in the Licheng court, provide professional advice for case disposals and assist in mediation.