For art's sake: France, China deepen cultural heritage ties

As a national symbol of France, the Palace of Versailles on the outskirts of Paris, also known as the Chateau de Versailles, is actively extending its global horizons in a bid to enhance its international standing.

For example, Versailles recently joined with 12 other top-level French museums to become part of an ambitious cultural project to loan portions of its collections on a long-term basis to the newly-opened Louvre Abu Dhabi in the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

At the same time, the museum, seat of France's permanent royal court from 1682 to 1789, also intends to forge closer ties with China.