The return of the stone lions was made possible through the initiative of the Kansong Art Museum, Eom said. She explained that individual collectors or institutions holding such artifacts may have opportunities to return them, and that both countries should actively express their willingness to move the process forward when those opportunities arise.

　　"Both Chinese and South Korean sides were actually very proactive and agreed to move forward with the process, making it possible through their joint efforts," Eom said.

　　Speaking at the handover ceremony in July, Rao Quan, vice minister of culture and tourism and head of the NCHA, said the return of the stone lions was a practical step in implementing the consensus reached by the Chinese and South Korean leaders on expanding people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

　　China is willing to take the return of the stone lions as an opportunity to further expand long-term and in-depth cooperation with South Korea in the field of cultural heritage, he said.

　　The South Korean side also said the return was made out of deep respect for Chinese history and culture and symbolizes the strong mutual trust between the two countries. It expressed hope that it would open a new chapter in bilateral cooperation on cultural heritage, further enhance mutual trust and friendship, and inject fresh momentum into broader cooperation in economic, social and other fields.

　　"As more cases like this arise, countries should cooperate more actively. This requires sustained exchanges and networking between the two sides," Eom said.

　　While transferring cultural artifacts is a major undertaking, ongoing people-to-people exchanges would make it easier for both sides to explore cooperation when opportunities arise, Eom added.