On the day following the International Museum Day, the Second Dialogue of the China-Europe-America Museums Cooperation Initiative was held virtually on May 19, 2021. Following the success of the first dialogue in 2021, the Initiative brought together 31 speakers this year from the fields of museums, arts, and culture, and delved into the role museums play in helping protect cultural heritages and fight against art trafficking. 

A group photo of the guest speakers at The Second Dialogue of The China-Europe-America Museums Cooperation Initiative: Protection of Our Cultural Heritage. 

In his opening keynote speech, David Gosset, founder of the China-Europe-America Global Initiative, stressed the complementarity of the protection of local cultures and the preservation of world heritage, and exemplified this point by making a reference to Victor Hugo (1802-1885). 

David Gosset, founder of the China-Europe-America Global Initiative, gives a keynote speech at The Second Dialogue of The China-Europe-America Museums Cooperation Initiative. 

Gao Anming, editor-in-chief and vice president of China International Communications Group, gave a keynote speech at the dialogue, during which he put forward a three-pronged suggestion for bolstering the functions of museums in cultural exchanges: First, to highlight the role museums play in promoting the shared values of humankind; second, to expand museum’s tech-assisted presentations and immersive interaction; and third, to make more effort to promote international cooperation between museums. 

Gao Anming, editor-in-chief and vice president of China International Communications Group, presenting a keynote address at The Second Dialogue of The China-Europe-America Museums Cooperation Initiative. 

These views were echoed by Shan Jixiang, former director of the Palace Museum, who emphasized tech-based scientific research, recording, and recovery related to cultural preservation. Deborah Lehr, chairman and founder of the Antiquities Coalition and Irina Bokova, former Director General of UNESCO, also emphasized the need of stepping up international cooperation which is one of the most efficient means of protecting world cultural property. Other guest speakers mentioned a host of concrete measures that museums in their countries have taken to preserve local cultural relics. 

The first session of the meeting focused on the issue of provenance and authentication of works of art. Chaired by Louis Godart, former cultural adviser of Italian Presidents, , the session had speakers including General Roberto Riccardi, Colette Loll, founder of Art Fraud Insights, Marie-Cécile Zinsou, president of the Zinsou foundation, and Mariarosaria Barbera who once served as the director of the Ostia Antica archaeological site, share their first-hand experiences, studies, and insights.  

The second session explored the need for raising public awareness on problems related to illicit art trafficking. Chaired by Alex Fan, co-founder of East Langkun , this panel featured Maxwell L. Anderson, former president of the American Association of Directors of Fine Arts Museums, and Marco Biscione, who is in charge of the Museum of Oriental Art in Turin. 

The third session underscored the importance of partnerships between the public and private sectors. G. Bin Zhao, economist at PwC China, hosted the dialogue and was surrounded by prestigious speakers including Seven Shu, director of Tencent Digital Culture Lab, Raffaele Cosimo of Intesa SanPaolo, Bonnie Goldblatt from Citi, Arthur de Villepin from Villepin Art, and Juan M. Gabarron, president of The Gabarron Foundation. 

At the closing ceremony, Joan McEntee, former Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Giamberto Giraldo, chairman of Yi Tsai, and Louis Godart stressed again the significant role that museums play in preserving global cultural heritage, called for more inclusive international cooperation in the battle against illicit art trafficking, and looked forward to more cultural exchanges between countries in the future. 

This event was jointly organized by the China-Europe-America Museums Cooperation Initiative, the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies (ACCWS) and the Antiquities Coalition.