Leaders of 21 museums from abroad and 17 museums from all over China are gathered in Shanghai for the inaugural M20+ International Museum Conference at Shanghai Museum East from Dec 3 to 4.

Featuring the theme Evolve and Everlast, about 100 museum leaders from some of the most celebrated institutions in the world, such as the Palace Museum in China, Victoria and Albert Museum in the UK and France's Guimet French National Museum of Asian Arts, will share their experience and insight on subjects such as heritage preservation and reinterpretation, global reach and local roots, as well as technology and public engagement.

The conference also coincided with the complete opening of Shanghai Museum East, which took seven years to construct. The new wing of the Shanghai Museum on the east bank of the Huangpu River showcases more than 15,000 objects in 20 galleries and interactive spaces. It is expected to receive more than 6 million visitors annually.