China, Italy team up to protect cultural relics

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, February 10, 2004

China, Italy team up to protect cultural relics

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Beijing saw the launch on Monday morning of a top-class training center dedicated to protecting and restoring cultural relics in China. With an investment of nearly 4 million US dollars, the Sino-Italian joint venture is the largest and most advanced institution of its kind in China.

The training center will provide courses in the restoration of cultural and historical relics made of porcelain, stone and metal. Trainees will also be taught how to protect archaeological digs.

The Italian side has provided over 1.8 million US dollars and 25 experts while China has invested nearly 1 million US dollars in funds, in addition to providing the premises and part of the training staff. The center now offers a nine-month program focused on practical skills. It aims to train specialized personnel for cultural relic protection and set an example for fellow institutions around China.

Zhan Changfa, director of Cultural Relics Protection & Restoration Center, said, "Our training is different from that provided at other schools. A student in our training program will take over 1,500 hours of class, among which more than half will be spent on the field. So our stress is on the practical skills."

Italian Expert Mario Micheli said, "The center is a result of cooperation between Italy and China. After studying at the center, trainees will use Italian archeological skills to work across China. This will lay a solid foundation for long-term cooperation between Italy and China in archeological research."

China and Italy set up their first archaeological training facility back in 1995, in Xi'an city. Since then, 53 Italian archaeologists have worked and taught in China. In March 2000, the two countries signed a framework agreement for long-term cooperation, which got into full swing in early 2002.

Source: CCTV News

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