Thangka paintings and photographs from Gansu on display in Milan

By Han Baoyi | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2019-01-26 03:16

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Kang Qing, Counsellor of Gansu People's Government Information Office. Angel Kong / China Daily

The opening ceremony of Symphony Silk Road, Desirable Gansu - National Style Photography and Thangka Exhibition and the Gansu Provincial Ethnic Culture Promotion Conference were held in Milan, Italy on Friday. Eminent personalities from the political, economic, cultural, and academic fields of China and Italy and local Chinese and overseas Chinese representatives attended the event.

The event was hosted by the Information Office of the People's Government of Gansu Province in conjunction with China Daily and co-organized with China Event. It exhibited nearly a hundred photographs showing the natural scenery and social culture of Gansu and exquisite hand-painted Thangka.

Kang Qing, counsellor of Gansu People's Government Information Office, said in his speech that cultural exchanges between China and Italy have been around for a long time. And there are many of them we are familiar with the names.

Dottor Francesco Maringio, member of the central committee of the communist party of Italy. Angel Kong / China Daily

"In 139 BC, Zhang Qian, a great emissary of China, set off from Xi'an and came to Europe via Gansu to get through the Silk Road" he said, "About the 13th century AD, the famous Italian traveller Marco Polo, who travelled around China for 17 years, spread the Chinese customs to the West."

Francesco Maringio, a member of the Central Committee of the Italian Communist Party, said that the Belt and Road Initiative laid the policy foundation for the friendly exchanges between China and Italy.

"Thanks to the 'Belt and Road, the relationship between China and Italy is getting closer."

Attendants look at details of the exhibits. Angel Kong / China Daily

The Thangkas on display were exquisite hand-painted originals. The guests praised this ancient Chinese painting technique and said that "Milanese fashion should go to the colorful Gansu to find inspiration for creation".

The exhibition was held at the famous Museum of Art and Science in Milan. Peter Matthews, the director and heir of the museum, expressed his warm welcome to the guests.

Kang Qing said: "I hope that through this exhibition, we can establish friendly exchanges between Gansu Province and the city of Milan, and promote cultural exchanges between China and Italy."