A group of Chinese photographers has become the first from this country to earn a place in the New York-based Museum of Modern Art's (MoMa) permanent collection.

The entries were made possible by AW Asia, a New York-based organization devoted to the promotion of Chinese contemporary art.

MoMA curators selected 28 pictures by 11 photographers, representing many pioneers from the 1990s, including Ai Weiwei, Hai Bo, Zhang Dali, Rong Rong, and Hong Hao.

"The work of Chinese artists has become an integral part of global culture," says AW Asia founder, Larry Warsh.

"AW Asia is pleased to have been able to play a role in this acquisition, so that this significant art is reflected in one of the world's premier photography collections. Given the heightened interest in Chinese contemporary art, it would be difficult to gather an array of works like this today.