A total of 56 Chinese cultural relics have been repatriated from Italy, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration. The successful repatriation was carried out under the bilateral agreement between China and Italy on preventing the illicit import, export, and transfer of cultural property.

In October 2022 and April 2024, Italy notified China of the seizure of three and 53 suspected Chinese cultural relics, respectively. Following expert evaluations and legal assessments, China submitted a formal request for their return through diplomatic channels. Italy agreed to repatriate all 56 objects.

Experts have identified the returned artifacts as originating primarily from the Chinese provinces of Gansu, Qinghai, and Shaanxi. These items are of significant historical, artistic, and scientific value. In particular, the Neolithic painted pottery from the Majiayao culture provides direct material evidence for studying the origins and early development of Chinese civilization.

In 2019, China established a dedicated office for the repatriation of lost cultural relics. To date, China has entered into government-to-government agreements with 27 countries, including Peru, Italy, Greece, Turkey, the United States and Australia, to prevent the theft, looting and illegal export of cultural relics. As of November 2024, a total of 48 lots containing 2,113 artifacts and sets have been successfully returned to China.

The repatriation of these 56 artifacts marks another milestone in China's efforts to recover its cultural heritage. It also underscores the critical role of international collaboration in cultural preservation and the safeguarding of shared human history.