On 3 November, Li Qun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and Director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, investigated the NLC Ancient Books Library. He successively investigated Central Control Room, Wenjin Building, ancient books stacks, deacidification laboratory, microfilms stacks, Linqiong Building, Hongwen Hall, and so on, deeply understood the Ancient Books Library conservation and repair, the preservation and conservation of collected literature resources, the operation of fire and security facilities and equipment, discussed and exchanged with relevant responsible comrades of the NLC, and listened to reports on the repair of the former site of Beiping Library, the progress of the grading of ancient books and cultural relics and the difficulties encountered in the work.

Li Qun pointed out that this investigation aimed at thoroughly implementing the spirit of a series of important discussions by General Secretary Xi Jinping on cultural heritage conservation and carrying forward the traditional Chinese culture, and earnestly implementing the relevant requirements of the Party's history learning education "I do practical things for the masses". He stressed that the former site of Beiping Library was an excellent representative of China's modern architecture and had high cultural relics, scientific and artistic value. It should be well conserved, managed and utilized with a high sense of mission and responsibility for history. We should make great efforts in formulating a plan. We should make systematic and comprehensive consideration and planning of the former site of Beiping Library in combination with the planning of the functional core area of the capital, formulate the overall plan for conservation and repair and several special plans, fully absorb the opinions of experts at home and abroad in accordance with the principle of overall planning and step-by-step implementation, and strive to make it become an influential conservation and repair sample all over the world. We should adhere to the principle of conservation first, carry out planning and repair on the basis of conservation priority, stick to the safety bottom line and ensure the safety of cultural relics.

Li Qun stressed that characters were the most important carriers of Chinese culture and ancient books were important cultural relics. The grading of ancient books and cultural relics was of great significance to national ancient books preservation and conservation. It was necessary to accelerate the relevant work during the 14^th Five-Year Plan Period. We should formulate and issue the national standard for the grading of ancient books and cultural relics in accordance with the law on the preservation of cultural relics and the grading standard of cultural relics collection, and on the basis of fully considering the particularity of ancient books. The NLC should take the lead in the grading of ancient books and cultural relics, give play to the leading role of industry demonstration, and promote the grading, preservation and utilization of ancient books and cultural relics in the nationwide. Li Qun finally said that the National Cultural Heritage Administration had always attached great importance to the work of the NLC, and would continue to give support in the conservation and repair of the former site of Beiping library and the preservation of ancient books and cultural relics.

Responsible persons of relevant departments of the National Cultural Heritage Administration and relevant responsible persons of the NLC participated in the investigation.