Nearly 800 Chinese cultural relics that had been taken overseas will soon set off on their journey home. (Photo provided to China Daily)
The Carabinieri Art Squad suspected the relics had been stolen from archaeological sites.
Alberto Bonisoli, the Italian minister of cultural heritage and activities, said in Rome that the return of the relics to Chinese people marked a great occasion. He expected that the National Museum of China in Beijing would hold an exhibition to display the treasures.
China has signed agreements and memorandums of understanding with 21 countries to cooperate in the fight against illicit international trade in cultural properties and facilitate the return of stolen artifacts. A repatriation agreement was reached with the United States on Feb 28, securing the return of over 360 artifacts.
On the eve of his state visit to Italy, Xi pointed out in an article he wrote for Milan's Corriere della Sera daily newspaper that the importance of closer ties between World Cultural Heritage sites in the two countries promotes understanding of different cultures and the world's cultural diversity.
According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces in Yunnan province and in Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato in northwest Italy will become such sister sites, as will the West Lake Cultural Landscape in Hangzhou and City of Verona in Italy.
A five-year agreement (2013-17) between China and Italy enabled the National Museum of China and Palazzo Venezia in Rome to annually hold major exhibitions of cultural relics from each other's countries.
In continuity of the good relationship, 102 Renaissance and ancient Roman artworks from 17 Italian museums were exhibited in Beijing's Capital Museum last year.
