A Chinese art exhibition opened to the public at the Thailand National Gallery on Thursday. A total of 63 outstanding works comprising paintings and sculptures from 42 Chinese artists have been showcased in Thailand for the first time.

The exhibition, with the theme of "Xieyi", was held at the state level, and organized by the National Art Museum of China as part of the commemorative activities to mark its 60th anniversary.

"Chinese Xieyi art is based on both the spirit of traditional Chinese art and the absorption of the aesthetic taste of Western art. As the soul of Chinese art, Xieyi has its image patterns falling in all categories of Chinese art," said Zhang Baicheng, deputy Party secretary of the museum.

The works by Chinese artists focus on contemporary Chinese paintings, oil paintings, sculptures, and watercolor works featuring Xieyi spirit and style, so as to reflect contemporary transformation and innovative forms of the Xieyi spirit.

Zhang said Chinese Xieyi is an art form with a poetic style. The works displayed at the exhibition not only reflect the form and spirit of traditional Chinese paintings, but also absorb and learn from Western classical art and modern art. "I hope the exhibition can serve as a platform for further enhancing understandings and exchanges among people from the two countries," Zhang said.

In the past 10 years, the National Art Museum of China has actively promoted mutual learning among civilizations and enhanced people-to-people contacts through international art exhibitions.

Chinese Xieyi — Art from the National Art Museum of China is an important exhibition series of the museum that has been successfully held in France, Greece, Belarus, Mexico, the Republic of Korea and Uruguay.

At the opening ceremony of the exhibition on Wednesday evening, Permanent Secretary for Thai Culture Ministry Yupha Taweewattanakitborvon said the exhibition is the first cooperation between the National Art Museum of China and the Thailand National Gallery.

Thailand welcomes more such art and culture cooperation and exchanges to deepen understanding between the two partners, Yupha said, adding that China and Thailand will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2025.

"Thailand and China are close neighbors and long-term friends. The exhibition will serve as a bridge to bring people from the two nations even closer," said Wu Zhiwu, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Thailand. "We are looking forward to more diversified art and culture exchanges between the two countries in the near future and encourage more participants from the general public, who play a crucial role in building a better Sino-Thai community with a shared future."