Global event works to protect cultural relics

The 4th International Conference of Experts on the Return of Cultural Property, which was organized by China's State Administration of Cultural Relics, was held from Sept 9 to 11 in Dunhuang, Gansu province. The annual global event explores creative methods to repatriate cultural relics and crackdown on related crimes. The meeting drew about 100 delegates from nearly 20 countries. The first conference was held in Seoul in 2011, and Turkey will be the host next year.

China vowed to continue to crackdown on cross-border crimes concerning cultural relics and better cooperate with parties around the world to promote the repatriation of illegally exported cultural property.

"China is a country with a great civilization and long history, and thus owns abundant cultural relics," said Li Xiaojie, vice minister of culture and director general of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, also known as SACH. "However, the strength of the country faded away in the 1840s and led to many precious items being damaged in wars and lost overseas."