Vatican, China swap art in bid to mend strained ties

Tourists visit the Forbidden City in central Beijing, China, on China's 68th National Day October 1, 2017. REUTERS/Jason Lee

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican and China will exchange paintings, vases and sculptures in a bid to mend often strained ties through "the diplomacy of art", officials said on Tuesday .

Forty works from the Vatican will go on show in Beijing's Forbidden City and 40 from China in the Vatican Museums in unprecedented simultaneous exhibitions in March, art chiefs from both countries told a news conference.