On 5 December, a strategic agreement between the Palace Museum and Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group (“Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group” or the “Group”) was announced at a signing ceremony in Jingsheng Zhai, Jianfu Palace Garden at the Palace Museum. Attendees included Wang Xudong, Member of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s Leadership Group and Palace Museum Director; Ding Wei, Executive Vice President of the International Confucian Association and former Ministry of Culture Assistant Minister; Xin Qi, Special Advisor to the International Confucian Association and Vice President of the China Association for International Friendly Contact; Du Haijiang, Palace Museum Secretary and Deputy Director; Wang Yuegong, Palace Museum Deputy Director; Luo Xianliang, Palace Museum Deputy Secretary and Deputy Director; Cheng Chi-Man, Sonia and Cheng Chi-Heng, Conroy, Vice Chairmen of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, Wong Siu-Kee, Kent, Managing Director of Chow Tai Fook Jeweller Group, and Liu Chun-Wai, Bobby, Executive Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group.

The Forbidden City is the world's largest and best-preserved wooden palace, and home to more than 1.86 million pieces of artifacts. The important monument encapsulates the expertise and creativity of ancient Chinese workers, as well as China’s rich 5,000-year history. In recent years, inspired by ‘Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era’, the Palace Museum has been working to preserve and promote traditional Chinese culture in a responsible and authentic way. Guided by four principles – "the safe Forbidden City, the academic Forbidden City, the digital Forbidden City, and the energetic Forbidden City" – the Palace Museum is set to become a world-class museum. It will set a new benchmark for cultural heritage preservation, champion cultural tourism, and serve as a place of cultural exchange and mutual learning.

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group’s vision is to become the most trusted jewellery group in the world. Founded in 1929, the Group’s iconic brand “CHOW TAI FOOK” continues to uphold its long-standing core values of "Sincerity • Eternity". The Group’s long-standing commitment to innovation and , and continues to create exquisitely-crafted, high-quality products, earning its reputation as one of the leading brands in the jewellery industry. In the meantime, the Group invests significant resources and is committed to preserving traditional Chinese gold craftsmanship and promoting the Chinese culture. Through combining spirit of Chinese aesthetics with contemporary aesthetic pursuits, this opens a new chapter of cultural innovation while further stimulate the vitality of traditional Chinese culture. 

In order to protect, study and conserve the exquisite Chinese culture and traditions embodied by the Forbidden City, the strategic partnership will focus on three key areas, namely heritage preservation and research, exhibition partnerships, and creative collaboration. The joint efforts will share China's rich story and keep traditional culture alive. Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group will support the Palace Museum’s heritage preservation efforts through academic research and publishing, Chinese historical and cultural exhibitions at home and abroad, and driving the development and promotion of Palace Museum's Chinese culture-themed products and merchandise. In the first phase of collaboration, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group will lend its support to the Palace Museum’s local and global exhibitions on Confucianism, through co-organising with the International Confucian Association, to foster global learning and exchange.

In his ceremonial speech, Lou Wei, Executive Deputy Director of the Palace Museum said, “The Palace Museum's high-quality development relies on the support and participation of all sectors of society. In recent years, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group has invested a lot of resources into harnessing cultural innovation, and has made outstanding progress in driving China’s creative transformation and innovative development, demonstrating a strong sense of social responsibility. The Palace Museum is delighted to join hands with Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group to preserve, study and pass on Chinese cultural heritage. Together we will explore diverse heritage values, create more cultural products that embody the spirit of China, enhance the influence of Chinese civilization, and promote exchanges, mutual learning and co-development around the globe.”

Cheng Chi-Man, Sonia, Vice Chairman of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, expressed her excitement in working with the Palace Museum to elevate cultural celebration and heritage preservation to new heights through global exchanges. In her speech, she expressed Chow Tai Fook Jewellery ’s ongoing commitment and determination to preserve Chinese heritage through innovation. She explained that through Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group’s extensive retail network in China and overseas, to the Group will showcase to the world China’s achievements and the rich beauty of Asian.