Roundup: Cultural exhibition of works by Chinese, Arab artists kicks off in Cairo

Visiting Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism Hu Heping reads a reply from Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Arab artists at the opening ceremony of the "Silk Road Artists' Rendezvous" exhibition in Cairo, Egypt, April 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

CAIRO, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The "Silk Road Artists' Rendezvous" exhibition opened at the Cairo Opera House on Monday, displaying artworks from Arab countries and China featuring paintings and porcelain.

Visiting Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism Hu Heping, Egyptian Minister of Culture Neveen Al-Kilany, Arab League assistant secretary general Haifa Abu Ghazaleh and Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang attended the opening ceremony.

During the opening ceremony, Ahmed Nawar, an artist from Egypt, read a letter written by Arab artists to Chinese President Xi Jinping. Hu read a reply from President Xi to the Arab artists.

Xi's reply spoke highly of the important contributions made by Arab artists to promote the communication between Chinese and Arab people, and once again advocated strengthening exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and Arab civilizations, and promoting the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era, he said.

The exhibition is "a recognition of the prominent role played by the Silk Road via several centuries in promoting the cultural exchange among ancient civilizations in addition to its essential function as a trade passage," said Al-Kilany.

She added that over the past seven decades and more, the Egyptian-Chinese cultural ties witnessed continuous development in all fields, and that cultural ties have always been the momentum behind state-to-state and people-to-people connections.

"Cultural ties between China and Arab nations carry common features that mainly seek to spread peace and mutual interests, and that call for building the democracy of relations and the respect of other cultures," said the Egyptian minister.

Both Arab states and China have a long history of civilization and rich cultural and artistic resources, said Abu Ghazaleh, adding that strengthening cultural cooperation is an effective way to enhance the exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations.

This cultural event shows the strong will of Arab countries to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields, she said, noting that the Arab League will actively work to promote the sustainable development of Arab-China cooperation in various fields.

Nawar said his painting was inspired by his visit to China in 2013, when he toured the Asian country and felt overwhelmed with the beauty of its natural heritage and elements of civilization.

Impressed by the progress he and other Arab artists saw in China in all fields, Nawar told Xinhua that he felt a necessity to help promote the dialogue between Chinese and Arab civilizations and to enhance the artistic and cultural exchanges.

Standing in front of his painting, Amr Douqman, an artist from Algeria, said his work was motivated by Chinese characters and calligraphy.

The Chinese signs are not simple letters, they are like waves that flow with freedom, said Douqman, who traveled to China three times. "Art helps me to fly to a distant country, but very close to us in culture and heritage."