Museum creation has increasingly become a major cultural export for countries. The controversial Louvre Abu Dhabi is slated to open later this year and the Guggenheim has made attempts in recent years to open up satellite museums in both Helsinki and Abu Dhabi, to name a few. Now, the London-based Victoria & Albert Museum is preparing to launch a new museum in China that will be the country's first ever major design museum.

The UK museum has partnered with China Merchants Group, who are behind the Sea World Culture and Art Center in Shenzhen in which the museum will be housed. The complex has been designed by Japanese Pritzker laureate, Fumihiko Maki, and will become a large-scale urban development that involves retail, commercial, and residential buildings as well as the Design Society. The projects aim is to promote Chinese design to an international audience and present the best international design in China. 

Deputy director of the V&A, Tim Reeve, described their role at the helm in an advisory capacity. The London museum already hosts one of the most comprehensive collections of Chinese art outside of East Asia. Ole Bouman, who was the creative director for the 5th Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture in 2014 and former head of the Netherlands Architecture Institute, will head the founding team. 

The museum will host a permanent V&A gallery with works transported from their UK collection and designed by Sam Jacob Studio. It will also house the Gaunfu Museum as well as exhibition halls, a theater, and learning areas. It is expected to open in December.