Wang Rulin, deputy to the National People's Congress and secretary of the Shanxi Provincial Party Committee, answers questions from reporters at a plenary session of the Shanxi?delegation to the NPC's annual session in Beijing. The session was?open to reporters from China and other countries. [Photo by Li Lianjun/Shanxi Daily]

The rich historical cultural and tourist resources are a treasure for North China's Shanxi province. Contrary to coal that will be exhausted through mining, the treasure will become even more splendid and valuable through deep exploration.

Wang Rulin, secretary of the Shanxi Party Committee, made the remarks at an interview after a panel discussion among Shanxi's NPC delegation on the government work report open to 135 reporters from 63 media organizations from China and elsewhere on March 6.

"If overseas tourists spend $360 each in Shanxi on average, it equals the income from export of one and a half tons of high quality coking coal, and if each domestic tourist spends 960 yuan ($147), it equals that of two tons of steam coal, and more importantly, without any pollution," Wang added. "We will prioritize progress of Shanxi's cultural and tourist industries."

In speaking about the traditional Shanxi culture, Wang said the province boasts rich cultural resources, including historical relics and ancient architecture, in addition to Buddhist culture, Taoist culture, and tourist attractions.

Asked how Shanxi's cultural development would help curb corruption, Wang said that Shanxi's long standing culture of rule by law will play a role.