MACAO, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The government of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) has drafted a new proposal to solve the dispute over construction in areas surrounding Mt.Guia, where a world heritage site is located, according to a press statement released on Friday by the government.

    Chu Sai On, secretary for social affairs and culture of the Macao SAR government, Thursday met with leaders of China's State Administration of Cultural Heritage and National Committee for UNESCO in Beijing, during which he submitted the new proposal to relevant officials and experts for further discussion and consultation, the statement said.

    At the end of last year, China's National Committee for UNESCO received a letter from the director of the World Heritage Center of UNESCO Francesco Bandarin, referring to the impact of certain buildings and some ongoing projects on the framework landscape of the Guia Lighthouse, a local world heritage site, particularly in its surrounding areas. The letter was later forwarded to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

    To address the controversy, the new proposal will give consideration to the height of the buildings and distances between the buildings built in the area, according to the statement. It also requires the establishment of a special preservation system to protect Macao's historic district, and specific laws to regulate relevant activities.

    Although the island city is running short of lands as it was undergoing an economic boom in recent years, the Macao SAR government will stick to its promise of preserving local heritage sites, and will consider the issue in its general urban planning, said Chu.

    Chu also invited world heritage experts from Chinese mainland and abroad to Macao, in order to further explore topics on relations between economic development and cultural heritage preservation.