"Treasures of Ancient China", an exhibition co-organized by State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China and Archaeological Survey of India was inaugurated at the National Museum of India on February 19, 2011 in New Delhi. More than 400 people attended the grand ceremony, including Minister of Culture, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Ms. Kumari Selja, Chinese Ambassador to India Mr. Zhang Yan, Secretary of Culture Mr. Jawhar Sircar, Deputy Director of State Administration of Cultural Heritage Mr. Song Xinchao, Director General of Archeological Survey of India Dr. Gautam Sengupta, Administrator of the National Museum of India Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose, the press and people from all walks of life in India.

After the traditional ceremony of lamp-lighting and unsealing the picture albums and catalogues of the exhibition, Minister Selja, Ambassador Zhang Yan, Secretary Sircar and other chief guests addressed the inauguration one after another. The Indian officials reviewed the history of cultural interaction between China and India and spoke highly of the exhibition and its significance in promoting cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. Ambassador Zhang hailed the exhibition as a mega event in 2011, the "Year of China-India Exchange". Looking back last year, the China-India relations developed steadily with both countries having celebrated the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties and all-round cooperation expanding in various fields, he expected the two countries to further communicate and cooperate in all aspects including cultural and people-to-people exchanges to inject new impetus to the friendly relations. Deputy Director Song Xinchao said, as the first large-scale Chinese cultural heritage exhibition held in India in reciprocity with "Treasures of Ancient India" held in China, the exhibition would showcase the splendid history of the Chinese civilization to the Indian people and promote mutual understanding and friendly exchanges between the two nations.

After the opening ceremony, Minister Selja and other Indian guests visited the exhibition accompanied by Ambassador Zhang Yan and Deputy Director Song. During the visit, Minister Selja and Ambassador Zhang accepted interviews with the press of both countries.

95 artifacts from museums of 6 different regions of China spanning from the Neolithic to the Qing dynasty period, including bronzes, potteries, jade objects, stone sculptures, murals, porcelain, tri-colored pottery and two terra-cotta warriors are displayed in the exhibition, which will be consecutively held in four cities of India, namely New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kolkata in the coming ten months. Major newspapers of India like The Times of India, The Hindu and Hindustan Times have published large-sized advertisements and introductions about the exhibition.