China on Monday announced the setting up of a national archaeological research center under the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA), which is expected to become a professional archaeological research institute of global significance.

The center, established on the basis of NCHA's national center of underwater cultural heritage, will focus on the excavation, study and preservation of cultural relics, as well as other aspects related to improving archaeological work in the country.

The center will work with other professional institutions, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Peking University, to achieve breakthroughs in key archaeological technologies and key links in archaeological work, said Liu Yuzhu, head of NCHA.

Hu Heping, minister of culture and tourism, called on the center to contribute to the country's various archaeological projects, and expand public access to archaeological achievements.