Chongqing - The Natural Treasures of the Visegrad Group Nature Photo Exhibition, hosted by the Consulate General offices of Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland, hosted an opening ceremony to celebrate the exhibition launch on April 8 at Eling Park.

It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon, and fragrant flowers danced in a gentle breeze. A bubbling, happy crowd of diplomats, government officials, and gallerists were in attendance to hear speeches from the organizers and the Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal Government.

The Visegrad Group – V4 for short – is an alliance of four eastern and central European states: Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. They take their name from the Hungarian city of Visegrad, where kings once met for economic and political negotiations.

"It's my honor to introduce to the Chinese people the beauties of the Visegrad Group member states, said Gergely Kádár, Hungarian Consul General to Chongqing. "We decided to choose Eling Park because of the closeness to nature and beauty, as well as the cultural connection to Hungary." Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the Czech and Polish Consul Generals from Chengdu couldn't be in attendance but they sent video greetings for the exhibition launch.

After, Li Minquan, Deputy Director of Foreign Affairs, quoted a recent speech by President Xi Jinping to the EU regarding Chinese-European cooperation. "President Xi's speech has provided us with guidelines to follow in deepening our friendship with European countries." He stated that "economy and trade are the keys, people to people exchange are the bridge, to build the belt and road together." He described Chinese-European relations at the  local level as 'flourishing.'

He congratulated Hungary as the current V4 president for carrying out a successful series of activities with the motto of 'Recharging Europe,' which has significantly forged a broader friendship between Chongqing and the V4.

After the speeches, the crowd moved inside the Gallery of the Min'ge Central Painting Institute at Eling Park to see the beautiful nature photos of the Visegrad Group countries. Hungarian Consul General and host Gergely Kádár introduced some of the artwork and explained that each V4 country had contributed 15 natural photographs to the exhibition.

The photographers displayed diverse landscapes and natural scenes of their homelands. The candid photos often displayed serene moments of beautiful tranquility and intimate snapshots of animals, evoking the undisturbed natural world's spectacular vitality and beauty.

All 60 photographs were stunning in their details, colors, focus, and intimate expression of the natural beauty of Hungary, The Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia. 

After hours of hiking around Eling Park, soaking up the sun, beautiful fragrant flowers, and fresh air with one of the best mountain views of Chongqing to be had, this nature photo exhibition was a great way to spend the afternoon.

The Natural Treasures of the Visegrad Group Nature Photo Exhibition is open to the public and ongoing until May 13 at Eling Park at the Gallery of the Min'ge Central Painting Institute.