Hundreds of Chinese cultural relics repatriated from Italy finally are made available for public viewing on Wednesday at the National Museum of China in Beijing. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

China has signed bilateral agreements to fight cross-border crimes involving cultural relics with 21 countries including Italy, and Guan said the agreements complement the international conventions. "Diplomatic channels, judicial procedures and negotiation are needed, depending on the circumstances," he said.

Guan said an exhibition featuring some of the choice cultural relics repatriated in recent years will be held in the near future.