BEIJING — Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) has been given a great role in China's poverty-relief campaign, said an official from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Dec 23.

The ministry has supported impoverished counties across the country to establish ICH workshops to boost employment, said Wang Chenyang, an official with the ministry's ICH department, at a press conference.

Nearly 1,000 workshops have been built in the national-level impoverished counties through the coordinated efforts from local governments, enterprises, academic institutions, and designers, according to Wang.

In addition, the ministry has strengthened the cultivation of leading ICH inheritors and encouraged them to train others in the surrounding areas.

The ministry has also proactively helped increase distribution platforms for the products made with ICH techniques and expanded the publication and promotion of ICH, Wang added.