Ambassador Liu Jinsong Meets with Australian Donors of Chinese Cultural Relic

(From Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Commonwealth of Australia)

On 28 October, Ambassador Liu Jinsong met with Shayne Thomson and Leon Deschamps from Western Australia，who donated a Ming Dynasty gilt-bronze statue of the Infant Buddha to China. Also present were Tang Wei, Deputy Administrator of China's National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA); Wang Fengzhong, Acting Consul-General of China in Perth; Gao Wei, Minister-Counsellor and Wu Yue, President of the Western Australian Branch of the Australia-China Friendship Society.

Ambassador Liu spoke highly of the two donors' respect for and protection of the cultural artifact, which exemplifies the exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and Australian civilizations, as well as the profound friendship between the two peoples. He also paid tribute to their generous act of donation.

On behalf of NCHA, Deputy Administrator Tang Wei presented certificates of appreciation to the two donors.

The statue was discovered by chance in Shark Bay—a World Heritage site and the traditional land of the Malgana people. With the authorisation of NCHA, the Chinese Consulate-General in Perth formally received the statue on 13 October at Shark Bay. The Western Australian Branch of the Australia-China Friendship Society has actively supported and partipated in the related events.