/PRNewswire/ - A report from Science and Technology Daily: During his official trip to Greece in 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping joined then Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos at the Acropolis Museum in Athens.

Xi noted that the two nations, rich in cultural treasures, should enhance joint efforts to protect and restore key historical sites and artifacts.

During the tour, museum staff showcased modern laser techniques for restoring relics. The demonstrator was Costas Vasiliadis. Six years on, now leading the Conservation Department and Casts at the Acropolis Museum, he recalls the moment clearly.

"I applied laser cleaning to a philosopher bust and explained current methods used by the Acropolis Museum and the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL) in preservation work," Vasiliadis shared with Science and Technology Daily.

"Both leaders displayed real curiosity about the hands-on side of conservation," he continued. "That encounter proved pivotal in deepening ties with the Palace Museum."

Ten months afterward, the China-Greece Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Cultural Heritage Conservation Technology began operations. The Palace Museum leads on the Chinese side, while IESL under the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH) heads the Greek effort.

"The pull between two ancient cultures, the common goal of safeguarding heritage, and a timely chance naturally drew the teams together," Zhao Guoying, former deputy director of the Palace Museum and lab director, explained with precision.

She recalls her group's initial visit to IESL in 2023. "Under clear skies, the Greek hosts raised the Chinese flag outside the FORTH building to greet the delegation," Zhao noted.

At the following meeting, every Greek partner joined, and participants explored lab growth and tech collaborations in depth.

The joint lab now operates 650 square meters of space in China and 100 square meters in Greece.

It has built a full innovation pipeline from research to tools, standards, and practical use, with strong gains in laser cleaning, holographic interferometry, non-invasive analysis, and digital methods.

Laser cleaning stands out in the shared research. Work on Lingzhao Xuan offers a prime case for deeper partnership. Built with stone and metal, this rare Western-style structure in the Forbidden City contrasts with surrounding red walls and yellow tiles.

"Lingzhao Xuan reflects past exchanges in building styles and materials while serving as a symbol for current global work on stone heritage," said Duan Hongying, section leader in the Material Science Group at the Palace Museum's Department of Architectural Heritage. The lab is now developing portable laser tools for site use at the Palace Museum.

The partnership has built strong trust, delivered clear results, and nurtured lasting ties.

Paraskevi Pouli, senior scientist at IESL and Greek lab head, sees the project as both a cross-field platform and a link for cultural exchange.

So far, the lab runs two stations in China and works with 12 institutions across both countries.

"Looking ahead, the lab will expand global ties. It has started digs with the UAE and aims to open a station in Malta for local sites, structures, and murals," said Qu Liang, director of the Palace Museum's Conservation Standard Department and executive deputy lab director.

"The goal is to serve partners in China and Greece while growing into a wider hub across Europe and beyond, aiding global heritage tech work and cultural understanding," Qu concluded.

SOURCE Science and Technology Daily