On Feb 21, Zhao Feng, curator of the China National Silk Museum, and his counterpart at the British Museum, Hartwig Fischer, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the aim of further strengthening exchanges and cooperation between the two world-renowned museums.

The signing ceremony for the MOU is held online on Feb 21. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

It was the first MOU between the two museums, with its expiration date set in February 2027.

As stated in the MOU, the two museums intend to seek deeper cooperation in academic research, information exchange, public education, promotional activities, and publications, all revolving around textile artworks from China's Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, which are currently preserved at the British Museum.

Hartwig Fischer, curator of the British Museum, and Zhao Feng, curator of the China National Silk Museum, show their signatures on the MOU through videolink. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

The China National Silk Museum and the British Museum have a longstanding and fruitful relationship. Their cooperation dates back to the early 2000s when Zhao visited the British Museum and worked closely with British colleagues to study textiles in the Marc Stein (1862-1943) collection, which gave rise to the publication of Textiles from Dunhuang in UK Collections in 2007.

The two museums' cooperation projects also include the publication of Textiles as Money on the Silk Road as well as joint research into the silk wrapper of the ancient Chinese scroll Admonitions and the dyeing techniques of Dunhuang silk artifacts.

In addition, the Silk Road Digital Museum (SROM) launched by the China National Silk Museum in 2021 has gained support from the British Museum. 

Textiles from Dunhuang preserved at the British Museum are physical evidence of the ancient complex trade network known as the Silk Road. "(The British Museum is) keen to work with our partners to encourage greater understanding of this important collection," Fischer said at the signing ceremony.

Fischer also congratulated the China National Silk Museum on its 30th anniversary this year. "We are pleased to add to the celebration of this milestone in the signing of this MOU," he said.

Zhao expressed hope that the two parties will "find more common interest and extend cooperation in more areas" in the future.

The book release ceremony for Textiles from Dunhuang in UK Collections is held at the British Museum. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

The third symposium on Textiles as Money on the Silk Road is held in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]