A bronze sculpture unearthed Sunday in east China's Zhejiang Province, is of great importance in confirming cultural exchanges between ancient China and foreign countries, experts said.

The sculpture features a figure of Buddha sitting upon a lotus throne and a flying dragon between the pedestal and the lotus throne.

Xu Pingfang, a leading archaeologist, said that this pattern is rarely seen anywhere in the world.

The dragon is a traditional Chinese symbol, while Buddhism came from outside China. The sculpture, unearthed from the ruins of the Leifeng Pagoda, is valuable evidence of the fusing of Chinese and foreign cultures.

Another valuable relic found in the same place is a locked casket.

The archaeologists also excavated ancient silk fragments, leather belt remains and other ancient treasures from the pagoda, which was built in 975.

The excavation work has now been concluded.

(People's Daily 03/13/2001)