BEIJING, April 29 -- China has formed a special committee to preserve architecture built in the 20th century.

The founding conference of the committee for the preservation of 20th century architectural heritage was held Tuesday in Beijing, and elected Shan Jixiang, curator of the Palace Museum as its president.

The committee was launched by the Cultural Relic Academy, a non-governmental organization.

The architecture of the 20th century has witnessed historic changes in China, and its preservation is of great value for cultural heritage and the study of history, according to a statement released after the conference.

The committee is aimed at enhancing public awareness of the value of 20th-century buildings and exploring ways for their preservation.