China says auction of looted sculptures will seriously hurt national sentiment

Source: Xinhua | 02-25-2009 08:16

BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- China Tuesday criticized the sale of two looted bronze sculptures at Christie's, saying it broke international conventions and seriously hurt the cultural rights and interests as well as their national sentiment.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu made the  remarks at a regular press conference as  answering relevant questions.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu made the remarks at a regular press conference as answering relevant questions.

The two bronze head sculptures, one rabbit and one rat, formed part of the zodiacal clepsydra that decorated the Calm Sea Pavilion in the Old Summer Palace of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795).They were stolen when the palace was burnt down by Anglo-French allied forces during the Second Opium War in 1860.