Eighth Colourful World - Cultural Exhibition of Countries along the Belt and Road Kicks off

The year 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the proposal of the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. On September 2, the Eighth Colourful World - Cultural Exhibition of Countries along the Belt and Road (hereinafter referred to as the "Colourful World"), themed "Ten Years of Cooperation, Mutual Learning, and Future Creation", was held in Shougang Park's No. 2 Exhibition Hall, an exhibition venue for the thematic exhibition of culture and tourism services of the 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services.

Chinese attendees pose for a photo with foreign guests.

This year's edition of the Colourful World was hosted by the Information Office of Beijing Municipality and organized by CRI Online of China Media Group and Beijing Performance and Arts Group, receiving strong support from Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, and the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality.

The attendees of the opening ceremony are the esteemed diplomatic representatives from the embassies of countries along the Belt and Road, including:

H. E. Carlos Miguel Pereira Hernández, the Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to China, and his spouse Mrs. Moraima Rodríguez Nuviola;

H. E. Dr. Archil Kalandia, the Ambassador of Georgia to China;

H. E. Dumitru Braghiș, the Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to China; 

H. E. Michael Campbell, the Ambassador of the Republic of Nicaragua to China;

H. E. Isabel M. J. G. Domingos, the Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe to China;

H. E. Oliver Wonekha, the Ambassador of the Republic of Uganda to China;

Mr. Cristian Mancheno, the Chargé d'affaires of the Republic of Ecuador to China;

Mr. Abdulaziz Aldekhail, the Chargé d'affaires of the State of Kuwait to China;

Mr. L. Munkhtushig, the Chargé d'affaires of Mongolia to China;

Mrs. Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh, the Deputy Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to China;

And Mrs. Binda Kumari Shrestha, the spouse of the Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal to China.

Participants receiving certificates

H. E. Dr. Archil Kalandia (middle), the Ambassador of Georgia to China, and  Mr. L. Munkhtushig (right), the Chargé d'affaires of Mongolia to China, introduce the distinctive cultures of their countries.

At the opening ceremony of the event, Mr. Xu Hejian, the Deputy Director General of the Publicity Department of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and the Director General of the Information Office of Beijing Municipality, and Mr. Liu Chi, the Vice President of CRI Online of China Media Group, handed out certificates of participation to the representatives of foreign embassies attending this year's Colourful World. H. E. Dr. Archil Kalandia, the Ambassador of Georgia to China, Mr. L. Munkhtushig, the Chargé d'affaires of Mongolia to China, and H. E. Michael Campbell, the Ambassador of the Republic of Nicaragua to China, helped visitors get better acquainted with the unique cultures of their countries.

H. E. Dumitru Braghiș (right), the Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to China, and H. E. Oliver Wonekha (left), the Ambassador of the Republic of Uganda to China, promote their countries' cultural tourism resources during the "Colourful Journey" session.

H. E. Dumitru Braghiș, the Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to China, and H. E. Oliver Wonekha (left), the Ambassador of the Republic of Uganda to China, took part in the "Colourful Journey" session where they presented to the visitors some of the featured cultural resources available in their countries. It was the first time the "Colourful Journey" tourism promotion session had been organized at the Colourful World. During the session, the representatives of foreign embassies in China promoted characteristic cultural products and conducted exchanges on the main stage. Visitors interested in the culture of the Silk Road are invited to visit the "Colourful Journey" exhibition area and sign up to participate.

A performance by folk musicians from Iran

The guests from all over the world brightened the opening ceremony with their special singing and dancing performances, deepening the bonds among the countries involved in the event.

Participants from China and other countries open the eighth edition of the Colourful World together.

The opening ceremony was concluded with the distinguished guests touching the waving, elegant-looking Silk Road Ribbon displayed on the screen and together launching the event.

(Source: CRI Online)