Source: CCTV.com

01-15-2009 08:48

As the new year begins, some big steps forward in cultural cross-strait exchanges are taking place. 17 pieces of art from an ancient collection in the Beijing Palace Museum will be exhibited in the Taipei Palace Museum. It's the first time the treasures across the Strait will reunite, after 60 years of separation.

As the new year begins, some big steps forward in cultural cross-strait exchanges are taking place.

Last year, the Taipei Palace Museum put forward its idea to hold a feature exhibition of relics from the Beijing Palace Museum. The request received a swift response from Beijing side. 17 pieces of precious ancient treasure will be loaned for display.

Along with the historic exhibition, Chou Gong-shin, director of the Taipei Palace Museum, will visit Beijing in mid-February. High level officials from the Beijing Palace Museum will return the visit in March. It will be the highest-ranking visit between the two sides in six decades.

Exchanges and communications in the areas of economy and culture across the Taiwan Strait have entered a new phase.

From 1948 to the beginning of 1949, Kuo-Ming-Tang brought nearly 3,000 boxes of ancient treasures from the Beijing Palace Museum to Taiwan. The selected antiques are about quarter of the whole collection of the Forbidden City.

Exchanges and communications in the areas of economy and culture across the Taiwan Strait have entered a new phase, since Ma Ying-jeou became the leader of Taiwan last May.

From exhibitions, research and the protection and restoration of antiques, more exchanges and further cooperation are being called for from both sides, which share the same roots.

Editor:Zhao Yanchen