Officials from U.S. Homeland Security Investigations return 58 Chinese cultural relics to China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration at the Chinese Embassy in Washington on Sept. 16 local time. / The Beijing News

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press briefing on Sept. 18 that Beijing “expresses its appreciation for the cooperation of the relevant U.S. agencies” in returning Chinese cultural relics.

“Since China and the U.S. signed an intergovernmental memorandum of understanding aimed at preventing the illegal import of Chinese cultural property into the United States, more than 20 batches of Chinese cultural relics taken to the U.S. have been successfully returned,” Guo said.

“We hope China and the U.S. will meet each other halfway in a spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit,” he added. “We also hope the two sides will do more major, practical and positive things that benefit both countries and their peoples.”

According to Beijing diplomatic sources on Sept. 18, China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration received 58 cultural relics, artworks and paleontological fossils from U.S. Homeland Security Investigations in Washington on Sept. 16 local time.

Among them was part of a bodhisattva statue from the Tianlongshan Grottoes in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, which had been taken overseas more than a century ago.

On Sept. 17, China received an additional six cultural relics and artworks from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in New York.

The U.S. returned a total of 64 cultural relics, artworks and paleontological fossils to China over the two days.

The timing of the handover has drawn particular attention because it came just days before the U.S.-China summit scheduled for Sept. 24, suggesting Washington was making an effort to create a more favorable atmosphere ahead of the talks.

Even so, Guo did not confirm a detailed schedule for Xi’s expected visit to the U.S. next week.

Asked whether Xi would visit the U.S. and, if so, on what date, Guo said only that “China and the U.S. are maintaining communication regarding exchanges between the two heads of state within the year.”

Guo gave the same response on Sept. 10 when asked about the schedule for exchanges between the U.S. and Chinese leaders.

Given the current atmosphere, however, the summit now appears highly likely to take place, and there is also growing expectation that the two sides could reach a meaningful agreement.

                                                                                                            Hong Soon-do