China's terracotta warriors come to Bucharest

BUCHAREST - Four of China's precious terracotta warriors and one terracotta horse are on display at an exhibition named "Treasures of China", which opened Monday in Bucharest, at the National Museum of Romania's History.

In his speech at the opening ceremony of the exhibition, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta called on the public and especially young people to visit the exhibition, hoping that the young could catch a taste of China's traditional culture.

Ponta said that it was a great honour for Romania to become the first country in Central and Eastern Europe to have an exhibition with terracotta warriors.He said he hoped that this exhibition would open a new chapter for China-Romania cultural exchanges.

China's ambassador to Romania Huo Yuzhen, for his part, also said that the Chinese side wished to boost the cooperation between the two countries via this exhibition.

Also present at the ceremony included Romania's former President Ion Iliescu, Speaker of the Deputies' Chamber Valeriu Zgonea, Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean, chairman of the Senate's Commission for culture, art and mass-media Georgica Severin, diplomats accredited in Bucharest as well as local cultural figures.

The exhibition, which will remain open till August 1, displays 101 pieces of historic objects chosen from 11 Chinese museums and heritage institutions.

The exhibits on display included jade, painted pottery, bronze, porcelain, stone works in addition to the five terracotta figurines.

The ancient terracotta army, buried for centuries to guard the tomb of China's first emperor Qinshihuang, was discovered in 1974 in Xi'an City. It represents one of the greatest archaeological findings of modern times, and was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1987.

This is the third time China will hold a major relics exhibition in Romania, with the first in 1973 followed by one in 1985.

Meanwhile, the National Museum of Romania's History's Managing Director Ernest Oberlander-Tarnoveanu said Romania will also put on a large exhibition in China next year entitled Romania's Treasures.