BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan on Monday stressed strengthening the protection and utilization of historical and cultural heritage to promote the Chinese civilization.

Sun made the remarks during her visit to the Palace Museum in Beijing to inspect the work on cultural-relic protection.

Calling the Palace Museum a treasure trove of Chinese history and culture, Sun emphasized the rational use of its cultural relics on the premise of protection. She called for efforts to prevent fire risks and ensure the safety of cultural relics, storehouses, infrastructure and visitors.

Sun urged efforts to study and interpret the cultural relics in the museum and better promote them to the Chinese people and to the world.

She also checked epidemic prevention and control measures in the museum.