A set of 18th century porcelain pieces, decorated with Islamic motifs of crescent moons, stars and Koranic inscriptions, is a key part of an unprecedented exhibition of artefacts in Hong Kong, reflecting historical links between China and the Muslim world, according to a visiting Qatari museum official.

In an interview with the Post, Shaika Nasser Al-Nassr, director of the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) in Doha, said the exhibition also highlighted the “good relations” between Qatar and the Hong Kong and mainland Chinese governments.

The MIA has one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive collections of Islamic masterpieces.

The “Wonders of Imperial Carpets: Masterpieces from the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha” exhibition that opened last Wednesday at the Hong Kong Palace Museum serves as a bridge both culturally and politically, especially at a time when the city is seeking greater ties with the Muslim world amid intensifying Sino-US tensions.

It is the first major Islamic art exhibition in Hong Kong.

“You cannot escape or deny the soft power of art. When we bring the exhibition here, it’s also a showcase of our good relations with Hong Kong and the Chinese governments,” Al-Nassr said.