Representatives of ICC Attended the Art Exhibition for the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of China-Germany Diplomatic Relations

October 11, 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Germany. The past half century has witnessed tremendous changes in both countries. Through reform and opening up, China has become a major power around the world, and after German reunification, Germany has emerged as a leading force in the European Union. Over the past five decades, China-German relations have confronted with various challenges amidst ever-changing international environment, but both sides have always navigated their relations from a strategic perspective, proactively promoted pragmatic cooperation with a down-to-earth attitude, and worked together to tackle common international challenges. Over the past 50 years, against the backdrop of the vicissitudes of international society, people-to-people exchanges and economic and trade cooperation between the two countries have bridged their differences in social systems and development stages. In this regard, China and Germany are highly complementary in many fields. China has become the largest importer of Germany for seven consecutive years, while Germany is the most pivotal trade partner of China in Europe. 

The phrase youmu chenghuai -- meaning “eyes can travel boundlessly so that the heart and mind are set free”, comes from the famous work of Wang Xizhi, a well-known Chinese calligrapher, Lantingji Xu (“Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion”): “Looking up at the vastness of the universe and down to the abundance of things, eyes can travel boundlessly so that the heart and mind are set free. It is such a delight to our eyes and ears and such a joy to ourselves.” As a major cultural event of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Germany, the exhibition borrowing the meaning from Wang’s phrase, called “View, the Landscape on the Bridge: Work Exhibition of Chinese Artists in Germany”, was exhibited at the National Center for the Performing Arts at Beijing in December 2022, which was under the spotlight. On February 12, 2023, the exhibition toured at Shanghai New Gallery of Art. The exhibition is organized by the China International Cultural Communication Center and the German-Chinese Friendship Association, with the support of the China Economic and Social Council and the academic support from the China Central Academy of Fine Arts. The exhibition has gathered 37 Chinese artists who have been to Germany, with their works covering a wide range of forms including painting, sculpture, design, architecture and new media art. The exhibition not only features works with distinctive styles by artists such as Xu Jiang, Yang Qi, Tan Ping, Zhu Jinshi, Deng Guoyuan, Zhou Chunya, Zhang Xiaogang, Ma Lu, Wang Xiaohui, Shan Fan, Wang Xiaosong, Ren Rong, Li Jiwei and Miao Xiaochun, but also presents some major achievements in the field of art design and architectural design by Wang Min, He Jianping, Teng Fei, Lin Cunzhen and He Wei. Through a systematic review of those Chinese artists’ works since the reform and opening up from an academic perspective, the exhibition unveils a panoramic view of their fruitful creations inspired by the cultural and artistic exchanges between China and Germany, which blend the art strengths of the two countries and reflect their in-depth thinking and exploration during the development of the times. 

Nowadays our world is undergoing the complicated international situation, counter-globalization movements and decoupling between countries from time to time. China-Europe relations bear on global stability and Eurasian prosperity. As influential major powers, China and Germany undertake common responsibilities in maintaining world peace and addressing global challenges. To this end, in adherence to the principle of independence, both sides should deepen mutual understanding and mutual trust. With joint efforts over the past half century, the relations between China and Germany have evolved into maturity, with their pragmatic cooperation reaching a new high. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between China and Germany, the thematic art touring exhibition serves as a higher-level platform for people-to-people exchanges, opens up more channels for the public interaction, and injects new impetus into broadening exchanges and deepening cooperation. In this regard, people-to-people exchanges, economic and trade cooperation and political mutual trust become the three pillars of China-German relations. This event will enhance people’s willingness from both sides to support long-lasting cooperation between China and Germany, and it is also conducive to China-Germany mutual learning and to multilateral communications among civilizations.

The art exhibition for the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between China and Germany was attended by officials, including Cai Wu, former Minister of Culture, Long Yuxiang, Executive Chairman of China International Cultural Communication Center, Shi Mingde, President of the German-Chinese Friendship Association and former Chinese Ambassador to Germany, Fan Di’an, Chairman of the Chinese Artists Association and President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, and Pit Heltmann, Consul-General of Germany in Shanghai. The International Cooperation Center has received a special invitation to attend this event and dispatched representatives to Shanghai to communicate with the Chinese and foreign guests.