Sino-Italian Experts Dialogue in Chengdu to Explore Cultural Heritage Conservation Practices

Release Time: 2025-05-30

To deepen exchanges and cooperation between Sichuan and Italy in the field of cultural heritage conservation and utilization, and to jointly explore effective pathways for cultural heritage to promote sustainable social development, the “Sichuan-Italy Cultural Heritage Conservation and Utilization Forum” was held in Chengdu on May 30th. The event was hosted by the Sichuan Provincial Commission for the International Council on Monuments and Sites, organized by the Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum, the Chengdu Municipal Commission for the International Council on Monuments and Sites, and the Sichuan Guanghan Sanxingdui Museum, and co-organized by the Archaeology of Sichuan, the Archaeology of Chengdu, and the Chengdu Museum.

The event brought together more than 20 experts and scholars from universities and cultural institutions in both China and Italy, including the University of Bari Aldo Moro, the Apulia Regional Museum in Italy, and the Sigismondo Castromediano Museum in Italy, as well as the Chinese National Committee for the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS China), the Sichuan Provincial Commission for the International Council on Monuments and Sites, the Archeaology of Sichuan, the Sichuan Guanghan Sanxingdui Museum, the Chengdu Municipal Commission for the International Council on Monuments and Sites, the Archeaology of Chengdu, the Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum, and the Chengdu Museum. They engaged in in-depth discussions on their respective practices and explorations in the conservation, research, and utilization of cultural heritage.

During the event, Chinese and Italian experts delivered insightful keynote speeches. Chinese experts elaborated on the concepts of cultural heritage conservation and restoration in China, as well as the archaeological discoveries and practical applications of the Jinsha Site, based on the China Principles for the Conservation of Heritage Sites and years of experience. Italian experts shared new perspectives on cultural heritage conservation from an international standpoint, covering topics such as the conservation and enhancement of archaeological heritage and the social functions of contemporary museums.

In the subsequent academic salon session, the experts were divided into two groups to discuss the themes of “Cultural Relics Conservation” and “Exhibition Curation.” Through thematic exchanges, both sides further strengthened their consensus on cooperation in cultural heritage management and exhibition planning, laying the groundwork for future joint research and conservation efforts.

The collaboration between the Jinsha Site Museum (the Museum) and the Italian cultural institutions has a long history. As early as 2016, the Museum partnered with the National Archaeological Museum of Italy to present the exhibition “The Eternal City – Splendour of Ancient Rome,” showcasing over 200 exquisite artifacts from ancient Rome, including sculptures, goldware, and pottery. In 2018, the Museum collaborated with the Naples Archaeological Museum in Italy to host “Pompeii: The Infinite Life,” allowing Chengdu residents to experience ancient Roman civilization up close once again. In December of 2018, the Museum, along with the Sanxingdui Museum and the Archaeology of Chengdu, brought the exhibition “Mortali Immortali: I Tesori del Sichuan Nell’antica Cina (Sanxingdui: The World of Gods and Humans – Special Exhibition of Ancient Shu Civilization from Sichuan)” to Naples and Rome, achieving two-way cultural exchange. The Year of 2025 marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Italy, and the Museum has specially collaborated with nine cultural institutions in the Apulia region of Italy to launch the exhibition “Ancient Greece: Mythology, Heroes, and Distiny – Treasures from Apulia Felix, Italy.” Moving forward, the Jinsha Site Museum will take this event as an opportunity to further deepen exchanges and cooperation with Italian cultural institutions, promoting mutual learning between civilizations.

（志愿者刘君然译）