US Returns 38 Tibetan Buddhist Artifacts from Yuan, Ming, Qing Dynasties to China

Apr 18, 2024, 10:00 AM

On Wednesday, the United States returned 38 pieces of Chinese cultural objects to China during a handover ceremony at the Chinese Consulate General in New York. This event marks a continuation of the collaborative efforts under the China-US Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2009, which has been extended for the third time, aimed at preventing the illegal importation of Chinese cultural artifacts into the US. The returned items, primarily Tibetan Buddhist artifacts from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, underscore the enhanced cultural exchange between the two nations and hold significant historical, artistic, and scientific value. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office facilitated the return of these artifacts, which are part of over 504 pieces recovered since the agreement's inception. Following the ceremony, Chinese officials and FM spokesman Lin Jian emphasized the importance of this cooperation in fostering better China-US cultural exchanges and strengthening people-to-people ties.