Sino-Italian Agreement on Prevention of Cultural Heritage Theft

CHP: China Heritage Update 3 February 2006

On the 20^th of January, representatives of the Italian and Chinese governments signed a bilateral Agreement to prevent the illegal movement, theft and illicit excavation of cultural artifacts. In this Agreement, the two governments highlighted the grave threat that these illegal activities already present to the cultural heritage of mankind. The two countries agreed to commence cooperation on the basis of each country’s laws and their obligations and responsibilities under international treaties, and to undertake cooperative, defensive, and forceful measures to counteract illegal activities in the cultural sphere.

Implementation of the 1970 UNESCO Convention and 1995 UNIDROIT Convention has been made an essential part of the two countries’ undertaking under the terms of the Agreement. The Agreement further stresses the importance of timely exchange of information, including specific clauses of the law and policies of relevant departments of the governments of the two countries, data bases on cultural artifact smuggling suppression, the status of issuance of licenses for export of cultural artifacts, the status of underground and excavated heritage, the status of commerce in cultural artifacts, and developments in illegal trafficking.

The two countries stressed increasing cooperation, raising awareness of museums and other cultural organizations about the harm done by illegal trafficking in cultural antiquities; coordinating cultural relations with third countries; implementing cooperation with organizations related to international conventions, and ending contact with any groups that are engaged in illegal trafficking of antiquities.

As two countries that have made major contributions to human civilization, in signing this Agreement, China and Italy are demonstrating that they have the same viewpoint and that their cooperation is highly effective. Many years ago China and the U. S. started to investigate the signing of a similar agreement. But, facing the pressure of the antique dealers and the antique collectors, American policy makers showed vacillation and indecision, and a lack of responsibility towards the cultural heritage of mankind. We maintain that in order to get American policy makers to change their position, first it is necessary to get the American public to understand the threat to mankind’s cultural heritage that theft, illegal excavation, and illegal trafficking in antiquities already poses. American cultural institutions take responsibility in this area.

Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center (CHP)

http://www.bjchp.org

Suite 2308, Building 5
East Zone 1, Tiantong Garden,
Dongxiaokou Town, Changping District,
Beijing, 102218, China
Telephone: +86 10 61768040, +86 13366082836
Email: information@bjchp.org