Beijing Forbidden City Museum Chief Wants Parthenon Marbles to be Returned

The return of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum so they might be displayed in their original location “would be the best choice,” the director of the Palace Museum in Beijing’s Forbidden City, Dr. Shan Jixiang, said in an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA) General Director Michalis Psilos on Saturday.

“All nations with ancient civilizations share the same desire: that scattered cultural heritage should return home,” Dr. Shan said. “The best choice, when an object has been preserved, is that it should appear in its original location. Its initial origins are the best home. I think that China, Greece and other countries with ancient civilizations must unite and join hands for the return of objects that have been taken from our countries,” he added.

Dr. Shan said that he had visited Greece many times and observed Greek cultural affairs with great interest, including matters relating to the protection of cultural heritage and museum management in Greece. He noted the very good level of cooperation between the Palace Museum and Greek museums in preserving cultural heritage, as well as the very high Greek standards in this area.

“We are fortunate to have the assistance of the Greek agency for preserving cultural heritage and the Greek government,” he said, expressing a desire to further broaden cooperation with Greek museums

Source APAM