Two Ancient Chinese Statue Heads Repatriated From Australia

Two ancient Chinese cultural relics have been returned from Australia after a handover ceremony at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra on Wednesday. The relics are the heads of statues from the Northern Song Dynasty, which spanned 960 to 1127.

Tang Wei, Deputy Director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA), attended the event alongside Chinese Ambassador Liu Jinsong and Nick Mitzevich, Director of the National Gallery of Australia. Each delivered remarks during the ceremony.

The returned items include the head of a military official statue from the Yongyu tomb and the head of a civilian official statue from the Yongchang tomb. Both are made of limestone and originate from Henan Province in central China, according to the National Gallery of Australia.

China said the repatriation of cultural heritage taken from its countries of origin is a crucial move toward protecting heritage, respecting the cultural rights and national emotions of people everywhere, and preserving humanity's shared achievements. Beijing viewed the handover as a notable result of its cooperation with Australia in enforcing international agreements and protecting heritage.

Beijing added that the event would promote contact and understanding between the peoples of both countries.

Australia said the return reflects more than the physical movement of artefacts. It said the handover demonstrates respect for heritage, a sense of responsibility and the significance of international partnership. Australia hopes the move will strengthen bilateral relations and support continued cooperation in heritage conservation.

The NCHA, working with China's Ministry of Public Security and cultural heritage and public security authorities in Henan Province, presented a memorandum and supporting evidence to the National Gallery of Australia in 2025. These documents formally requested the return of the two artworks.

The successful repatriation depended on close coordination between the NCHA and the Chinese Embassy in Australia. It was carried out under the UNESCO 1970 Convention, which aims to prohibit and prevent the illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property.

The 2009 bilateral memorandum of understanding on cultural heritage protection between China and Australia, together with the National Gallery of Australia's 2021 due diligence and provenance research policy, also contributed significantly to the process.