Exhibition on Chinese, Ukrainian art held in Kiev to mark anniversaries

KIEV, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition of masterpieces of Chinese and Ukrainian artists was held here Wednesday to celebrate the 68th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which falls on Sunday.

Themed "Peace and Friendship," the exhibition was also organized to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Ukraine.

The exhibition featured more than 60 pieces of art works painted by 24 Chinese and 20 Ukrainian artists in different genres, such as portraiture, landscape, still life and others.

Zhai Runan, secretary of the Beijing-based Peace Tour Cultural Exchange Center, an organizer of the exhibition from the Chinese side, said the show, the first of of its kind held in Ukraine, is aimed at promoting the peaceful development of the international community.

"Ukraine now is in urgent need of peace. And we brought the Chinese artists here so that they could use their brushes to express their hope for peace," Zhai said.

Chinese artist Liu Kongxi, a participant of the exhibition, said he hoped the art collection, which shows daily life, would help Ukrainian and Chinese people better understand each other and learn more about each other's cultures.

"It is very important that the delegation of Chinese artists has come to Ukraine, to display their works and simultaneously see the works of Ukrainian artists. It is helping strengthen our friendship," Liu said.

Meanwhile, a ceremonial reception was hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine to mark the 68th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, articipated by hundreds of high-ranking guests, including former Ukrainian presidents Leonid Kravchuk and Viktor Yushchenko, foreign diplomats, representatives from the Ukrainian government and parliament as well as local business leaders

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Yushchenko hailed the sound and sustainable development of China over the past decades, saying that China is playing a prominent role in the international arena.

"China sets a good tone not only in the global economy, but also in many other areas, from political and security spheres to the cultural sphere. My philosophy, both as a politician and as an ordinary person, has always been based on the fact that the Ukrainian-Chinese relations are extremely important," Yushchenko told Xinhua.

The ex-president also praised the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative as a good instrument to develop all-round international relations, saying that Ukraine and China enjoy broad prospects for win-win cooperation under the initiative.