Forbidden City Declaration: Museum to be More Open, Visitor-friendly

33 leaders from the world museum circle have gathered in China's Forbidden City and passed a declaration to make the location a more open place for international visitors.

"The Forbidden City should be opener and more friendly to visitors, so that visitors can better feel the charm of Chinese traditions and cultures here. We have expanded the exhibit area from 52 percent previously to 65 percent this year, and will expand to 76 percent in 2016," said Shan Jixiang, curator of Forbidden City.

The declaration says museums are responsible for enhancing the quality of public culture, through leading world fashion while upholding traditions. They should become centres of positive energy that can truly affect social changes. Also, they should try to satisfy the differentiated cultural tastes of the public. Representatives at the forum stressed that visitors are most important in museum culture.