'Bright future need not cast shadow on capital's past'

The protection of Beijing's precious cultural relics need not be at odds with the capital's fast economic development, delegates said at the city's annual legislative meeting on Sunday.

"People used to think protecting cultural relics stood on the opposite side to developing the local economy, but actually the growing economy should offer a strong foundation for the experts and the public to better preserve the city's treasured past," said Chen Bali, a delegate at the ongoing Fourth session of the 11th Beijing Municipal People's Congress.

As the vice-director of Chaoyang Cultural Relics Administration, Chen said Chaoyang had developed fast as the city's most prosperous district and the number of the cultural relics it houses is few.