President Xi Jinping has called for continued efforts to protect the Great Wall, promote the Great Wall culture and pass on the precious heritage to future generations.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remark in his reply to a letter from residents in Shixia village, which is located at the foot of the Badaling section of the Great Wall in Beijing.

Residents of the village in Yanqing district recently wrote to Xi, reporting their work in protecting the Great Wall and changes taking place in the village.

In the reply letter sent on Tuesday, Xi said he was pleased to learn that the villagers had taken the initiative over the years to protect the Great Wall, inherit the Great Wall culture and increased their incomes by utilizing the resources of the Great Wall.

Xi noted that the Great Wall is a representative symbol of the Chinese nation and an important symbol of Chinese civilization.

"It is our common responsibility to protect and pass on this historical and cultural heritage," Xi said, calling on the villagers to keep up their efforts to "pass on the precious wealth left by the ancestors from generation to generation".

Xi said he hopes the villagers will continue protecting the Great Wall as they protect their homes, carry forward the Great Wall culture and tell stories about the Great Wall well, so that more people will understand the Great Wall and contribute to its conservation.

The Great Wall is the largest cultural heritage existing in China. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, Xi has attached great importance to tapping into the cultural value of the Great Wall and the conservation of its cultural relics, and has made multiple important instructions on advancing the construction of the Great Wall National Cultural Park.

wangqingyun@chinadaily.com.cn