UK hands recovered cultural relics back to China

The United Kingdom returned 12 cultural relics and artworks to China at a handover ceremony on Wednesday in London at China's embassy in the UK.

The 12 cultural objects were seized by London's Metropolitan Police during investigations.

Both China and the UK are parties to the 1970 UNESCO Convention, which supports the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property and facilitates its return and restitution.

Under the convention's framework, China's National Cultural Heritage Administration worked closely with the UK authorities through China's embassy in the UK to secure the return of the objects.

"Cultural objects embody a country's national spirit and sustain the identity of a civilization," Zheng Zeguang, China's ambassador to the UK, said at the event. "The repatriation of illicitly removed cultural objects to their countries of origin is a just act, for it helps to safeguard the cultural objects of all countries and shows respect for the cultural rights and national feelings of the people."

The two sides will work even more closely to follow through on the important common understanding reached between the leaders of the two countries during their phone conversations in September, Zheng said.

"We look forward to taking this event as a new opportunity and a new starting point to strengthen our dialogue and cooperation at all levels and in all areas, to expand cultural exchanges, especially those on cultural relics protection, so that we can deepen the mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples and help to build a long-term, consistent comprehensive strategic partnership between our two great countries," he said.

Mark Gooding, director of Asia Pacific at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, also noted the recent "very positive" phone call between the two countries' leaders, during which UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham set out the UK's commitment to a consistent and long-term partnership with China.

He said it was in the spirit of this partnership that the handover ceremony was held.

"Cultural heritage forms part of the shared human story and preserving it for future generations is a responsibility that transcends borders and politics," Gooding said.

Rao Quan, China's vice-minister of culture and tourism and head of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, joined the ceremony online.

Representatives from London's Metropolitan Police, the UK's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe also attended the event.

zhengwanyin@mail.chinadailyuk.com