Restitution of looted artistic works: China eager to cooperate with France

The Senate must vote on Thursday to definitively adopt the law facilitating the restitution of looted artistic works. Deputies gave their green light on Wednesday unanimously.

Published on 07/05/2026 at 3:32 PM. Reading time: 2 minutes

China stated on Thursday it to be “eager to cooperate” with France for the restitution of looted Chinese artworks as the French Parliament prepares to adopt a law facilitating such returns. The legislative text is seen as being able to facilitate the return of items acquired illicitly from French collections during the French colonization, when claimed by their country or people of origin. The Senate must vote on Thursday to definitively adopt this law. Deputies had already given their approval on Wednesday unanimously.

“The Chinese appreciate the responsible approach shown by the French side to facilitate the return of looted cultural goods to their country of origin,” said Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “She hopes the bill will be promptly concluded and is eager to cooperate with France in this area,” he emphasized during a regular press briefing.

Requests for the return of artworks looted by France, originating from many countries, notably African, have long faced resistance from major French museums.

The new law would allow the French government to return works by decree, without having to rely on specific laws on a case-by-case basis, as has been the rule until now. The text only applies to items acquired between 1815 and 1972, marking the start of the second French colonial empire and the entry into force of a UNESCO convention.

“China and France have already successfully conducted many collaborations in combating illicit trafficking in cultural goods and promoting the return of illegally removed cultural objects,” Lin Jian said on Thursday.

The family of French billionaire François-Henri Pinault had, in 2013, returned two precious bronze animal heads to China at no cost. They originated from the old Summer Palace in Beijing, known as the “Chinese Versailles”, destroyed in 1860 by Franco-British forces, leaving only scattered ruins today. This incident was denounced by writer Victor Hugo and is still strongly felt in China. A significant number of objects were looted at that time and have since been dispersed worldwide.

In the mid-2010s, France also returned several highly valuable gold plaques after being convinced they were stolen from a Chinese archaeological site.