BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese political advisors during a consultation session Friday offered proposals on building a cultural belt along the Grand Canal to protect it.

The bi-weekly session held by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, was presided over by Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee.

Wang called for continuous efforts to build the cultural belt and stressed protection during construction.

A total of 12 CPPCC members and scholars put forward their suggestions on building a green ecological corridor along the Grand Canal, protection on traditional villages, convergence of culture and tourism as well as overseas exchanges on canal culture.

While hailing achievements China has made in protection of the heritage of the Grand Canal, political advisors at the session called for prioritizing protection in development.

China should improve water governance of the Grand Canal and take the will of original residents into consideration in tourism development, according to the political advisors.

They also called for regulations on the protection of the Grand Canal and improving local legislature.

The Grand Canal is almost 3,200 km long, including the part stretching from Beijing to Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province. It has a history of more than 2,500 years. Over 1,000 km of the canal was recognized as a world heritage site in 2014.