France, May 16 -- A French law easing the restitution of artworks looted during the colonial era between 1815 and 1972 was published in the Official Journal last weekend, following its final approval by MPs.

"China attaches great importance to the bill recently adopted by the French National Assembly simplifying procedures relating to illegally acquired cultural property," said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a meeting in Beijing with President Macron's diplomatic adviser Emmanuel Bonne.

Yi added that he wished to "strengthen co-operation with the French side on this issue".

For Beijing, the new legislation raises hopes of recovering some of the thousands of objects looted during the sacking of the Old Summer Palace in 1860 by ...