56 lost Chinese cultural relics returned from Italy

9/11/2024 16:50

        A total of 56 lost Chinese cultural relics have been returned from Italy, China's National Cultural Heritage Administration announced on Saturday.
        
        The return signifies yet another successful cooperation between China and Italy within the framework of their bilateral agreement aimed at preventing the illegal import and export of cultural relics, the administration noted.
        
        It follows the previous repatriation of 796 Chinese cultural relics from Italy in March 2019.
        
        In October 2022 and April 2024, the Italian Carabinieri military police notified China about the seizure of a total of 56 suspected Chinese cultural relics.
        
        Upon receiving this information, China's National Cultural Heritage Administration provided detailed identification opinions and legal basis reports to the Italian authorities.
        
        Through diplomatic channels, China officially requested the return of these cultural relics. Italy subsequently made the decision to return the 56 aforementioned artifacts.