A century ago, many Dunhuang relics were lost overseas. Some claim this "loss" was "another form of protection". In response, Su Bomin, director of the Dunhuang Academy, said in an interview that since history cannot be changed, today's important mission is to deeply study and organize these remarkable cultural treasures and "promote the value of them so that more people around the world can understand them".
The Global Mayors Dialogue · Dunhuang opened in Dunhuang, Gansu province on Oct 13, bringing together mayors, mayoral representatives, diplomatic envoys to China, young Sinologists and distinguished guests from ten countries to explore opportunities and challenges in cultural urban governance.
The flying apsaras of Dunhuang are "something similar" to angels, said Cav. Uff. Massimo Andreoli, chairman of the Venice Carnival. He notes that as a symbol of Dunhuang culture, the flying apsaras have been applied in various products such as books, clothing, and blind boxes. "This is the way to make us understand more about your culture," he said.