Rules sought to stop artworks smuggling

BEIJING - China's cultural relic watchdog has vowed to strengthen regulations to combat online smuggling, Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday.

"Without effective regulation, the current chaos in the online trading of artworks and antiques will pose severe dangers to the cultural heritage of China," Xinhua quoted Shan Jixiang, director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and a member of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Other CPPCC members also appealed for legislation that would regulate online arts trading, which currently takes place under no restrictions.