In her video message to the new museum, Emma Nardi, president of the International Council of Museums, says: "This is an important moment for the China museum community and it will be a significant event for the international museum family that brings us more potential in professional cooperation in natural history museums."

At the plaque ceremony this month, a new site of the museum was also unveiled in an official video.

The new location, south on the Central Axis of Beijing, covers an area of 57,700 square meters. The institution will expand its collection, play an increasingly important role in scientific research, curate more attractive and informative exhibitions, develop diversified learning programs and deepen international communication, according to Meng.

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