BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The National Base of Underwater Archaeology (South China Sea) under China's National Cultural Heritage Administration was recently launched.

With a planned area of 74 mu (about 49,333 square meters) and a total construction area of 31,085 square meters, the base is expected to perform various functions, including underwater cultural heritage survey and protection, cultural heritage repair and archaeologist training, according to the administration.

Li Qun, vice minister of culture and tourism and head of the administration, said the South China Sea is the largest in scale and richest in underwater cultural heritage among China's waters, and is an important area of the Maritime Silk Road.

Building the base is an important step to strengthen the country's underwater cultural heritage protection work, and is of great significance to passing on traditional Chinese culture and safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and maritime rights, Li said.