Chongqing- On May 19, under the theme "Across Mountains and Seas, Chongqing Meets the World" the Chongqing International Friendship Cities Exchange Exhibition officially opened at the Chongqing Art Museum. Delegations from Chongqing’s international friendship cities attended the opening ceremony.
The opening ceremony of Chongqing International Friendship Cities Exchange Exhibition (photo/ Xuelin Mu)
As the only municipality directly under the central government in Southwest China, Chongqing has consistently embraced an open stance toward the world. To date, it has established sister-city relationships with 59 cities and maintains friendly exchanges with 137 cities globally. This exhibition showcases the fruitful outcomes of cooperation and the vibrant exchange of civilizations between Chongqing and its globagl partners.
Delegations from Chongqing's international friendship cities (photo/ Organizer)
On display are 217 exhibits, including photographs documenting exchanges and collaboration, gifts from friendship cities, and artworks co-created by artists from Chongqing and its partner cities. Notable items include oil paintings from Pest County, Hungary; a beer mug from Düsseldorf, Germany; exquisite amber art from Minsk, Belarus; and a porcelain tea set from Chiang Mai, Thailand. These precious pieces not only capture the essence of countless interactions between Chongqing and the world but also convey heartwarming stories of friendship cherished by the city and its global counterparts.
Delegation members are watching exhibits (photo/ Organizer)
The exhibits and the meaningful narratives behind them captured the attention of delegation members. Ádám Karácsony, Vice President of Pest County, remarked, "It's beautiful. Even though this is just the beginning, we had the chance to see wonderful pictures and old memories. We even share common memories with our Chongqing friends—this is my third time visiting Chongqing."
After touring the exhibition, Jim Dawson, Founding Board President of the Seattle Chinese Garden Association, shared stories of ongoing collaboration with Chongqing. He noted that the Seattle Chinese Garden has partnered with Chongqing for many years, including joint efforts to build classical Chinese gardens that represent Chongqing in Seattle. For him and his team, "This is an exciting event because it expresses the friendship between Seattle and Chongqing through cultural activities centered around this classical Chinese garden."
According to the introduction, the exhibition serves not only as a cultural exchange platform ahead of the upcoming Friendship Cities Conference but also as an immersive experience that deepens the understanding of Chinese and foreign representatives regarding Chongqing’s achievements in opening up, thereby facilitating the development of practical cooperation intentions.
Running from May 19 to June 18, the exhibition is free and open to the public. "The exhibition aims to allow citizens to experience diverse cultures right in their own city and strengthen their sense of identity with the city's opening-up and development," the organizer added.
( Wang Hangyu, as an intern, also contributed to this article)