US Returns Pre-historic Fossils to China

A collection of 525 million years old fossils, smuggled from China into the United States by mail, officially returned to the Chinese government Wednesday. The priceless prehistoric fossils were returned by the US government at a ceremony at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, as a result of the two countries' enhanced law enforcement cooperation. Our Washington correspondent shanshan has the story.

Ann: This collection of fossils was seized 3 years ago. On March 14, 2007, a parcel mailed from Hong Kong, China to a recipient in Illinois caught special attention of officers from the US Customs and Border Protection bureau in Chicago during their routine inspection. The parcel, declared as "stones", was found to contain prehistoric fossils. Authentication by experts at the Field Museum of Chicago determined that the fossils were approximately 525 million years old and had great scientific value.

The Chinese government requested the return of the fossils to China. The fossils, 66 pieces in total, were returned to China at Wednesday's ceremony. Thomas Winkowski, Assistant Commissioner for US Customs and Border Protection, says these priceless fossils are an irreplaceable part of China's culture and history.

"The fossils are absolutely priceless, and very important to the people of China. It's a very proud day for all of us as we can return these."

This is the second repatriation of pre-historic fossils to China since September last year, when fossils of pre-historic mammals and dinosaur eggs which are 100-million-year old were returned to China. The new collection of fossils to be sent back to China represent a much longer history than the fossils returned last year.

Xie Feng, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy, expresses his heartfelt gratitude to the U.S. government for its efforts to return the fossils to China.

"I still recall that in September last year, we celebrated the repatriation of fossils of prehistoric mammals and dinosaur eggs which are 100 million years old. Today we gather again to send home a much older generation of prehistoric fossils. They are of special important for our scientific research at the prehistoric era. "

The fossils will head to China, to be kept in the Geological Museum, where scientists will have the opportunity to study them.

SS, CRI news, Washington.