China-US memorandum extended for another 5 years

The Memorandum of Understanding Between China and US concerning import restriction of Chinese cultural relics has been proved by both sides to remain effective for another half a decade.

According to the memorandum, US government will continue to impose import restrictions on Chinese cultural relics.

"We don't want to see these cultural heritage lost and brought to a foreign land, neither do we want to see that next generation have to go to New York or Paris when they want to look at a Chinese cultural relic. They ought to be available in China. It's for our descendants that we are protecting the treasures of arts and culture." Song Xinchao, deputy director of State Administration of Cultural Heritage, said.

The memorandum was signed in 2009 and 4 years later in March of 2013, US government returned for the first time 14 pieces of cultural relics to China. It protects archaeological material from the palaeolithic period through the Tang Dynasty and monumental sculpture and wall art at least 250 years old.

So far, China has signed agreements with 13 countries on protecting its rich cultural heritage.