Chinese President Xi Jinping called for concerted efforts to promote China-Italy friendship when meeting representatives attending the China-Italy Cultural Cooperation Mechanism Conference and the Dialogue between Chinese and Italian University Presidents in Beijing on Friday with visiting Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
"The world is entering a new period of turbulence and transformation. As two ancient civilizations, China and Italy should take proactive steps to advocate for the promotion of culture and virtue. We should tend to the fate of humanity with all encompassing humanistic values. We should transcend barriers and conflicts with a spirit of inclusiveness. We should pool our strengths for development with a vision of harmony and mutual coexistence, and let the beacon of civilization shine on the path forward for mankind. I hope the representatives present here would take on the responsibility and inspire more individuals who share the same vision to strive to become practitioners of China-Italy friendship and cooperation, promoters of East-West cultural exchanges, and participants in building a shared future for mankind to make the two countries' contributions to global peace and development," Xi said at the event.
"For a long time, the people of China and Italy have shared mutual admiration. Both countries boast rich and splendid traditional cultures, and have maintained continuous exchanges over the centuries. I hope that through unceasing efforts, we can build a cultural bridge between the people of Italy and China. Through the cultural cooperation mechanism and the university presidents' dialogue, we will strengthen the friendship between our nations, lay a solid foundation for harmonious coexistence, and inject momentum into our joint efforts to address global challenges," said Mattarella.
Xi calls for concerted effort to promote China-Italy friendship
Xi calls for concerted effort to promote China-Italy friendship
A contemporary Chinese art exhibition has been held at the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest, playing a vibrant role in fostering cultural ties between the East and the West. The exhibits, including brush paintings and sculptures on mountains, rivers, plants, blend traditional brushwork with Western influences, creating a serene, meditative atmosphere.
The artists' deep connection with the natural world is a window that the "Chinese Xieyi exhibition'' at the Hungarian National Museum presents to the public to explore Chinese philosophy, according to Tunde FegyvAri-Komori, curator of the Hungarian National Museum.
"This exhibition is a collection of 58 artworks, including four sculptures from 58 different artists, from the National Art Museum of China's collection. And they represent modern and contemporary artworks, partly reflecting back to the traditional Chinese painting and Chinese art, and partly reflecting to Western influences in art, which mostly started arriving in China after the 1970s and the 80s," said FegyvAri-Komori.
Much of the exhibition showcases traditional Chinese brushwork, where delicate strokes create intricate designs and meanings that express deep philosophical meanings, allowing viewers to experience the world from their perspective.
"The Chinese curators constructed the exhibition around these three topics and these three main aspects to approach Xieyi itself. The first one is called 'yi', which translates as meaning. This focuses on the essence of the topic. The second one is form, which in Chinese is 'xing,' and it's quite similar to meaning, but from a different approach. They are focusing on the form itself that they see, but they are not aiming at mirroring reality. The third one is called 'interest,' or in Chinese called 'qu.' And in this last part, I would say that it's a combination of the first two," said FegyvAri-Komori.
One standout piece is a sculpture that blends mythology and modern art, depicting Lao Tzu departing from the Qin Empire (221 BC to 207 BC), carrying the wisdom that shaped Taoist thought with him. The ox-head panther he rides symbolizes mysticism and the spiritual journey, adding another mythical dimension to the work.
"It expresses Xieyi very well, but at the same time, it also expresses a little bit of Western modern art, abstract art," said FegyvAri-Komori.
For many visitors, the exhibition is a chance to experience the dynamic evolution of Chinese art.
"My father had several books about Chinese art, about porcelains, ceramics, and paintings. It always struck me how different it is from our European tradition. There's a subtlety and sensitivity in it. The way they express emotions feels so unique and profound," said Daniel, a visitor.
The exhibition, part of celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Hungary and China, celebrates cultural exchange and shared appreciation for art and culture.
Contemporary Chinese art expo held in Hungary helps cultivate ties between east and west
