British authorities on Thursday said that relocating the Magna Carta display from the Renmin University of China to the British Embassy in Beijing was because of "administrative and logistical practicalities."



"We made the decision to display the Magna Carta at the residence based on administrative and logistical practicalities," the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) told the Global Times on Thursday.



The spokesperson said that the British ambassador's residence was fitting and practical, and was an appropriate venue for the important document.



The embassy first announced, via its official WeChat account, on October 9, that it would display the document at the Renmin University from Tuesday to Thursday. It later issued a notice changing the display location to the British ambassador's residence one day before the exhibition was due to open.



The abrupt change sparked speculation from Western media, with some reporting that the Chinese authorities blocked the exhibition at the Renmin University of China.



The debut of the document has been widely covered by the Chinese media since September, with many elaborating on the history and significance of the document.



"The document is an internationally recognized symbol of justice and the rule of law," the Xinhua News Agency quoted an FCO spokesman as saying on September 22.



There has been no speculation on the location change in the Chinese media.



Observers believed that there was no need to speculate on the location change, as it is common for cultural relic exhibitions.



"The Western media over-interpreted the change, and it's not necessary," Tian Dewen, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.