The 4th International Conference of Experts on the Return of Cultural Property ended in Dunhuang, Gansu province. At the conference, Chinese cultural officials called for further protection and return of illegal exported cultural property.

According to the Dunhuang Declaration adopted by the conference, clandestine excavation of heritage is the most difficult crime to combat. It not only destroys the integrity of the archaeological sites, but deprives the nations and peoples of the world the opportunities to understand and appreciate these irreplaceable heritages.

The experts called for feasible measures to ensure that information related to archaeological heritage can be published in a timely manner and registered in the record of national cultural property. Building an accessible national database of illegal cultural properties and multilateral cooperative mechanism is necessary. To prevent archaeological heritage from being exported, we need to prohibit heritage without an entry permit entering the country, punish individuals responsible for exit/entry heritage and strengthen international cooperation. We encourage experts to identify the source of illegal heritage based on technology and scientific analysis and support countries that claim the return of their own archaeological heritage.

The conference has decided to hold the International Conference of Experts on the Return of Cultural Property every year. And the fifth conference will be held in Turkey next year.

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