On September 18, “Ji Porcelain New Rhyme” Hebei Intangible Cultural Heritage (Porcelain) exchange promotion event opened at the China Cultural Centre in Kuala Lumpur (CCCKL).

The organizers selected Ding porcelain, Xing porcelain, Cizhou kiln, Jingxing kiln, black pottery, six variants of twisted tire porcelain and about 40 pieces of art products for exhibition. They also meticulously arranged a medley of live demonstration on ceramics, tea ritual, floral art, calligraphic painting and incense ceremony. Through multi-faceted uncustomary/unorthodox non-heritage skills display of Ding porcelain with floral carvings, lecture sessions, and tourism promotion links, the event presented a comprehensive display of Hebei renowned kiln and ancient porcelain long history and cultural connotation. The audience was amazed by the artist’s splendid craftsmanship.

The event was organized by Hebei Provincial Culture and Tourism Office, CCCKL and Association of Belt and Road Malaysia. Nearly 100 guests were invited to attend the event, including Messrs. Chen Chen, Minister Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Chuah Poh Khiang, president of Association of Belt and Road Malaysia, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Goh Tian Chuan, president of The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Hua Zong). Meanwhile, CCCKL also signed a cultural and tourism cooperation document with Association of Belt and Road Malaysia at the event.

In his speech Messrs. Chen Chen expressed his immense gladness to see so many Malaysian friends’ attention and support for Chinese traditional culture. Ceramic culture transcended through across a thousand years of Chinese history while reflecting its cultural greatness and profoundness. Ceramics is also the ambassador of China’s friendly exchanges with foreign countries. It had followed Zheng He’s pace to the Atlantic, spread to Southeast Asia and around the world. If ceramics spreading represents China’s traditional culture, then the Belt and Road initiative is the dissemination of Chinese people’s friendship. As this year marked its 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia, we would continue to enhance relations between China and Malaysia on the basis of bilateral friendly exchanges. He also hoped that all entities and friends would support and accord due attention to CCCKL’s activities.

CCCKL’s director Zhang Jiexin said that the theme of the exhibition was highly representative symbols of both Chinese ceramics culture. As it was CCCKL’s first cultural activity since its trial operation in September this year, therefore it entailed special significance. As a starting event, CCCKL would host a series of cultural and tourism-related activities. CCCKL would fully harness its function as the platform for mutual cultural and tourism cooperation in terms of matchmaking and the nitty-gritty for cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Hebei is one of the cradles or birth-places of Chinese civilization. It occupies a pivotal position in the history of Chinese ceramic culture. As CCCKL’s this year’s counterpart corresponding province and coinciding with the 2019 Hebei Province’s Culture and Tourism Year overseas campaign, Hebei province would organize a series of cultural and tourism activities in Malaysia. The current exhibition would last 21 days and end on October 8.  The event was open to the public free of charge.