Xinhua Fresh News, 48 batches of 2113 pieces/group! These treasures are finally home.

[Source: Xinhua]]

xinhua news agency, beijing, nov. 11Question: 48 batches of 2113 pieces/group! These treasures are finally home.

Xinhua News Agency reporter Shi Yucen

Rome, Italy, October 28, local time, Fiumicino Airport. In the warm sunshine, flight CA940 carried a group of special "passengers" to the sky and set foot on the way home.

They are among 56 artifacts seized in Italy and recently returned to China. After many procedures such as storage, delivery, and appraisal, on November 9, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage informed the public of the process of returning these treasures home--

In October 2022 and April 2024, the Italian cultural relics gendarmerie informed China of 3 and 53 pieces of suspected Chinese cultural relics seized by them respectively. Based on the results of expert appraisal and legal research and judgment, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage provided the Italian side with detailed appraisal opinions and legal basis reports, and formally submitted a return request to the Italian government through diplomatic channels. The Italian side decided to return the above 56 cultural relics and artworks.

Italy returned China's Neolithic Majiayao pottery (photo taken on November 5). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li He

Data show that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China has achieved 48 batches of 2113 pieces/group of cultural relics art return. Groups of cultural treasures have gone through many disasters, crossed mountains and seas, and returned to the embrace of the people of the motherland.

Once upon a time, they were a pain in the heart of the Chinese nation.

The Yuanmingyuan was burned down, and the Dunhuang Grottoes were repeatedly destroyed... The ruins were silent, and several dreams returned. Turning to the modern history of China, the fate of a large number of cultural relics scattered and falling, it is sad.

Today, the bronze "tiger" appeared at the National Expo, the bronze statue of the horse returned to the Old Summer Palace, and the lost Buddha's head returned to his homeland in the Tianlongshan Grottoes... The call of "return" has turned into the most beautiful reunion in reality.

In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Zheng Zhenduo and other older generations of cultural relics workers needed to recover a large number of precious cultural relics for the country during the country's difficult times by establishing a "Hong Kong Secret Purchase of Cultural Relics Team.

The word "secret" reveals endless difficulties and frustrations. They "only have to be very confidential and very careful" in order to "avoid bad people taking advantage of loopholes".

Today's road to return has a new pattern.

In recent years, the State Administration of Cultural relics has set up an office for the recovery and return of lost cultural relics, which has a professional team; multi-departmental linkage has formed a joint force for the recovery and return of lost cultural relics; in November 2024, the 12th meeting of the standing Committee of the 14th National people's Congress voted to pass the newly revised Law on the Protection of Cultural relics, clarifying the working mechanism for the recovery and return of lost cultural relics in China......

Today's return is exploring a new path.

The recovery of lost cultural relics not only involves extremely complex legal problems, but also often involves national emotions and international relations. It is a systematic project that requires the unremitting efforts of generations, and is recognized as a worldwide problem.

Diplomatic mediation, consultation and negotiation, law enforcement cooperation, judicial proceedings... In recent years, China has continuously explored various ways to promote the return of lost cultural relics. At the same time, it also launched China's stolen (lost) cultural relics information release platform to provide a basis for the recovery of stolen cultural relics and overseas lost cultural relics in accordance with the law.

Italy returned China's Neolithic Majiayao pottery (photo taken on November 5, collage). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li He

Today's return is becoming a new consensus.

This batch of cultural relics "should be returned to law and reason"-when a batch of 68 lost British cultural relics were returned to China in October 2020, the words of detective Sophie Hayes of the London Metropolitan Police, who was responsible for signing the relevant documents, were particularly impressive.

This is a vivid proof of change.

"In recent years, the international legal order in the field of recovery and return of lost cultural relics is undergoing changes in favor of the rights and interests of the countries of origin of the cultural relics." The relevant person in charge of the Exchange and Cooperation Department of the State Administration of Cultural relics (Office for the recovery and return of lost Cultural relics) said that the concept of "illegally lost cultural relics should be returned to their countries" has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people and has become a solid international consensus. it provides a broader space for cooperation in recourse and return between the vast number of lost cultural relics and the current holding countries.

At the same time, our country in the field of recovery and return of lost cultural relics highlights the historical responsibility of the great powers of the East. From the release of the Dunhuang Declaration in 2014 to the Qingdao Proposal on the Protection and Return of Cultural Relics Lost in Colonial Context or Observed by Other Unjust and Unethical Ways in 2024, the sons and daughters of China are contributing Chinese wisdom to the establishment of more fair and just international rules for the recovery and return of lost cultural relics.

Through thousands of years, across mountains and rivers and seas, 48 batches of cultural treasures have been recovered, and behind them are endless legends.

The story of the next artifact coming home continues.

For the cultural treasures that are still out there, one thing can be sure: a country that is determined to rejuvenate, a nation that cherishes its own culture, will never give up the pursuit.

Planning: Chen Fang

Xinhua News Agency Domestic Products

[Editor: Liu Yang]]