The Archives Law was promulgated in 1987, and amended in 1996, 2006, 2020 respectively. The latest revision entered into force on January 1, 2021.

There are 53 articles in total.

The key points are as follows:

1.This Law shall apply to the collection, arrangement, protection, and use of archives as well as the supervision and administration thereof. Article

2.The “archives” means historical records in various forms, including words, diagrams, and audio-visual, among others, whose preservation is of value to the state and society and which have been or are being directly formed by organs, groups, enterprises and public institutions, other organizations, and individuals in their economic, political, cultural, social, ecological civilization, military, foreign affairs, scientific and technological, and other activities.(Article 4)

3.All state organs, armed forces, political parties, groups, enterprises and public institutions, and citizens have the obligation to protect archives and the right to use them in accordance with the law.(Article 5)

4.The archives administration of the state shall take charge of the archives work nationwide.(Article 8)