China denies art auction bid role
The Chinese government has denied any involvement in bidding at an auction in Paris for two bronze artworks which it says were looted from Beijing in 1860.
A Chinese collector bought the heads of a rabbit and a rat for 15m euros ($19m; £13m) each, when fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent's collection was sold.
The buyer, Cai Mingchao, has refused to pay, as an "act of patriotism".
The official Xinhua news agency quoted an official as saying what Mr Cai had done was entirely a personal action.
He said his bureau did not know the identity of the bidder until Cai Mingchao, an adviser to China's National Treasures Fund that seeks to retrieve looted treasures, revealed himself.
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A Chinese collector bought the heads of a rabbit and a rat for 15m euros ($19m; £13m) each, when fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent's collection was sold.
The buyer, Cai Mingchao, has refused to pay, as an "act of patriotism".
The official Xinhua news agency quoted an official as saying what Mr Cai had done was entirely a personal action.
He said his bureau did not know the identity of the bidder until Cai Mingchao, an adviser to China's National Treasures Fund that seeks to retrieve looted treasures, revealed himself.