In brief
Australia transferred two limestone statues – the heads of a military and a civil official from the Northern Song Dynasty – to China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration in Canberra. The ceremony, attended by Chinese and Australian officials, underscored a commitment to repatriate cultural items in line with UNESCO conventions. Both sides cited the act as a reinforcement of cultural respect and bilateral ties.
Australia handed back two limestone statues dating to the Northern Song Dynasty (960‑1127) to China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration at a ceremony in Canberra on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026.
The National Gallery of Australia (NGA) orchestrated the handover, which took place at 2:52 p.m. local time. Tang Wei, deputy director of China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration, Liu Jinsong, Chinese ambassador to Australia, and Nick Mitzevich, director of the NGA, were among the attendees who delivered remarks.
The relics consist of the head of a military official from the Yongyu Mausoleum and the head of a civil official from the Yongchang Mausoleum, both carved from limestone and originating from Henan Province in central China, according to the NGA.
China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration said the return “represents an important step toward safeguarding cultural heritage, respecting the cultural rights and national sentiments of peoples around the world, and protecting the achievements of human civilization.”
Australia’s side described the event as “more than the physical transfer of cultural objects; it reflects respect for cultural heritage, a sense of responsibility and the importance of international partnerships.” It further stated that the handover “will help strengthen Australia‑China relations and encourage continued cooperation in cultural heritage protection.”
Both sides framed the act as a manifestation of their joint commitment to UNESCO conventions and to preserving displaced cultural relics, with China pledging to promote people‑to‑people exchanges and empathy between the two peoples.
