The biggest exhibition of China's terracotta warriors is being negotiated by the Qinshihuang Terracotta Museum and the British Museum.

If the detailed proposals are agreed, the British Museum will hold an exhibition of the terracotta warriors, buried with the first Chinese emperor Qinshihuang 2,200 years ago in northwestern Shaanxi Province, sometime next year, said Wu Yongqi, director of the Qinshihuang Terracotta Museum.

The British Museum first showed interest in exhibiting the terracotta warriors at the end of last year, according to Jin Xianyong, director of the communication center of Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Bureau.

British Museum director Neil MacGregor visited the bureau last week, when the British Museum lent works for an exhibition in Shanghai on the treasures of Mesopotamia

"We had a primary discussion about the exhibition's schedule, scale and technical details," Jin was quoted as saying by Friday's Beijing News.

Jin said the 100 items to be showcased would include ancient weapons and ceramics from the Qin Dynasty, 221-207 BC, to give a comprehensive view of the dynasty.

The British Museum was looking forward to the exhibition of terracotta warriors and hoped it would be agreed soon, Hannah Boulton, the British Museum spokesperson, was quoted as saying.

The British Museum had a successful touring exhibition, "Treasures of the World's Cultures", with a collection of 272 ancient artifacts, here in March.

(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2006)