The world's oldest tool from Africa, a 3,000-year-old mummy, ancient Egyptian tablets, Greek busts and Roman sculptures, among other treasures, are on show.

Nevertheless, no Chinese items collected by British Museum are on display in the exhibition.

The intention of the British Museum is to bring the whole world into one building, said Neil MacGregor, director of the British Museum, at the opening ceremony, adding that the British Museum is "not a museum of the whole world, but for the whole world."

Guo Xiaoling, curator of the Capital Museum, said, "We learn about the outside world in order to understand ourselves better."

"Chinese civilization is the only civilization, out of the ancient civilizations that originated in approximately 4,000 to 2,000 BC, traveling in one continuous line. A nation with such vitality will definitely have a beautiful future," Guo said.

Five lectures on world history have been arranged during the exhibition. Neil MacGregor gave the first lecture, entitled "Around the World in 20 Objects", after the opening ceremony.

The Treasures of the World's Cultures collection has been shown in Japan and the Republic of Korea, alluring a total of 1.3 million visitors during its four-city tour in Japan and 600,000 in Seoul.

The British Museum is planning to hold more exhibitions in China in the years ahead in conjunction with the Palace Museum and the National Museum of China. It is also thinking of showing Chinese treasures in Britain, according to Jane Portal, assistant keeper of the British Museum.

(Xinhua News Agency March 19, 2006)