The Italian Senate’s passing of the “Foreign Cultural Relics Exhibition Exemption Act” has been welcomed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) as a significant step in providing clear and stable legal protection for Taiwanese cultural artifacts to be exhibited in Italy in the future. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung expressed his high praise for the legislation on the 15th, thanking the bipartisan members of the Italian parliament who have long advocated for this cause.
In a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan), it was stated that the Italian Senate’s approval of the “Insequestrabilità delle opere d’ arte straniere in prestito temporaneo” Act on the 14th marked the completion of the legislative process in parliament. This move is seen as instrumental in providing a clear and stable legal framework for the exhibition of Taiwanese cultural relics in Italy, heralding a new chapter in cultural exchanges between Taiwan and Italy.
Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung expressed his strong affirmation and welcome towards this development and extended his utmost respect and gratitude to the bipartisan Italian parliamentarians who have diligently promoted this legislation for an extended period of time.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the proposal for this legislation was first introduced in June 2002 by members of the Italian parliament with the aim of facilitating the exhibition of Taiwan’s precious cultural artifacts in Italy to deepen cultural exchanges between Taiwan and Italy. After five parliamentary terms and 24 years of continuous efforts, the Act was successively passed by the Lower House and the Senate in February and July of this year. The Act will officially come into effect after being signed and published by the President of Italy in the “Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana” on the 15th.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) stated, “During the process of promoting the Act, there was a strong consensus within the Italian parliament to enhance bilateral cultural ties between Taiwan and Italy. Several proposing members explicitly expressed their hope that Taiwan’s valuable collections from the National Palace Museum could be exhibited in Italy through this Act, allowing people from both countries to enjoy a cross-border cultural feast.”
The ministry emphasized, “Taiwan and Italy share universal values such as freedom, democracy, and human rights, with Taiwan being a stronghold in the Indo-Pacific region for defending democratic and cultural values. The government of Taiwan will continue to deepen cooperation in various fields with Italy on the basis of the existing solid foundation, and through art and cultural exchanges, further consolidate the strong and friendly partnership between the two sides.”