U.S. returns 38 pieces of cultural objects to China

China's Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism and head of the National Cultural Heritage Administration Li Qun (2nd R) and Matthew Bogdanos (2nd L), chief of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, sign documents at a handover ceremony of returned Chinese cultural objects at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, the United States, on April 17, 2024. The U.S. side returned 38 pieces of Chinese cultural objects to the Chinese side on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

NEW YORK, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. side returned 38 pieces of Chinese cultural objects to the Chinese side on Wednesday.

At a handover ceremony at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office handed over the cultural objects to a delegation from China's National Cultural Heritage Administration.

China and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding that aims to prevent the illegal importation of Chinese cultural artifacts into the United States in January 2009. Its validity has been extended for the third time, starting from January 14 this year.

Returned Chinese cultural objects are seen at a handover ceremony at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, the United States, on April 17, 2024. The U.S. side returned 38 pieces of Chinese cultural objects to the Chinese side on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Returned Chinese cultural objects are seen at a handover ceremony at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, the United States, on April 17, 2024. The U.S. side returned 38 pieces of Chinese cultural objects to the Chinese side on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

China's Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism and head of the National Cultural Heritage Administration Li Qun (R) shakes hands with Matthew Bogdanos, chief of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, at a handover ceremony of returned Chinese cultural objects at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, the United States, on April 17, 2024. The U.S. side returned 38 pieces of Chinese cultural objects to the Chinese side on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Staff members check the condition of returned Chinese cultural objects at a handover ceremony at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, the United States, on April 17, 2024. The U.S. side returned 38 pieces of Chinese cultural objects to the Chinese side on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

China's Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism and head of the National Cultural Heritage Administration Li Qun (2nd R) and Matthew Bogdanos (2nd L), chief of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, sign documents at a handover ceremony of returned Chinese cultural objects at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, the United States, on April 17, 2024. The U.S. side returned 38 pieces of Chinese cultural objects to the Chinese side on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

China's Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism and head of the National Cultural Heritage Administration Li Qun (R) and Matthew Bogdanos, chief of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, attend a handover ceremony of returned Chinese cultural objects at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, the United States, on April 17, 2024. The U.S. side returned 38 pieces of Chinese cultural objects to the Chinese side on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Staff members check the condition of returned Chinese cultural objects at a handover ceremony at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, the United States, on April 17, 2024. The U.S. side returned 38 pieces of Chinese cultural objects to the Chinese side on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Rui)