March 26th, 2023

Culture serves as the carrier of international exchange, and art acts as the bridge for cultural communication.

(From chinareport.com, Correspondent Li Chuanjun) At the beginning of 2023, a delegation comprising both government and non-governmental representatives, led by Xiao Wunan — Vice Chairman of the China Association of Social Economic & Cultural Exchange and Executive Vice Chairman of the Asia Pacific Exchange & Cooperation Foundation, visited over 20 countries and regions across East Asia, ASEAN, the Middle East, Europe, North America, and the Caribbean. They presented the calligraphic work "Chinese Fu" (the Chinese character for "fortune" or "blessing"), created by Venerable Daojian, Vice President of the Chongqing Buddhist Association and Abbot of Huayan Temple in Chongqing, to more than 200 foreign dignitaries and prominent figures. These gifts yielded unexpected effects in international cultural exchanges.

The Chinese character "Fu" has been woven throughout the 5,000-year tapestry of Chinese civilization.

In traditional Chinese culture, the concepts of "Fu" (fortune), "Lu" (emolument), "Shou" (longevity), "Xi" (happiness), and "Cai" (wealth) are collectively revered, with "Fu" (fortune) being the first among them. In early 2023, before his international trip, Xiao Wunan spent considerable time deliberating on appropriate gifts. After careful consideration, he finally decided to request the Venerable Daojian, a highly respected Chinese Buddhist master, to inscribe the "Chinese Fu" as presents for foreign dignitaries and prominent figures.

During his visit to ASEAN, prominent figures including former Thai Deputy Prime Minister Korn Dabbaransi, Cambodian Prince Norodom Chakrapong, Cambodian Deputy Minister of Interior SOK MONY, Cambodian Deputy Minister of Commerce H.E. Buon Sarakmony, and Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona, expressed particular admiration for the Chinese "Fu" presented by Xiao Wunan. They regarded it as the finest gift and most heartfelt blessing received during the Lunar New Year festivities.

Across visits to the UK, Spain, France, the Dominican Republic, and the United States, whether at the University of Cambridge or within British royal circles, the Chinese "Fu" consistently sparked delight. During the Italy trip, Xiao Wunan was invited by Pope Francis to attend a special mass at the Vatican, where he presented an artistic work to the Pope, receiving high appreciation. In Milan, the delegation visited the Francis Foundation at the Catholic University and gifted the Chinese "Fu", symbolizing a deepened mutual understanding and cultural fusion between traditional Chinese art and diverse global art forms.

While leading a delegation from Shenzhen Qianhai on a visit to Dubai, Xiao Wunan presented the Chinese "Fu" to BICC, a company owned by the royal family of the Emirate of Dubai and currently one of the world’s largest developers. They praised traditional Chinese culture and art and expressed willingness to foster exchanges between Arabic and Chinese calligraphy in the future.

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized in the report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China: "Deepen exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and promote a better global outreach of Chinese culture." Cultivating people through culture can better unite hearts, while connecting minds through art can more easily bridge the world. To enhance the communication power and influence of Chinese civilization, we must accelerate the construction of a Chinese discourse and narrative system, tell Chinese stories well, spread Chinese voices effectively, and present a credible, lovely, and respectable image of China.

In fact, Xiao Wunan has persisted in the work of presenting traditional Chinese artworks as gifts during international exchanges for over twenty years. As early as when he served as a Senior Official of the United Nations Council for Communication, Cooperation and Coordination (UNCCC) and a Senior Project Official of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), he presented countless Chinese calligraphic artworks to various countries. These gifts were given to important national departments including the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union, and the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, as well as to world-renowned political figures, celebrities, and dignitaries. In 2005, during the award ceremony where Xiao Wunan received the "Lifting the Sun of Tomorrow for Humanity" award from a UN-affiliated NGO, he presented a work by Chinese calligrapher Tan Bozhong. Other recipients of this award included many globally influential figures such as Princess Diana, the famous long-distance runner Carl Lewis, Pope John Paul II, and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.

Xiao Wunan mentioned that the recently passed Venerable Master Hsing Yun also achieved remarkable accomplishments in the art of calligraphy, and the two shared a deep friendship spanning decades. When Venerable Master Hsing Yun revisited Beijing in 2008, Xiao Wunan presented him with a calligraphic work during their meeting at Beijing's Dayuan Hotel. The Venerable Master Hsing Yun was delighted and reciprocated with one of his own calligraphic works. Additionally, Xiao Wunan presented several calligraphic works to the renowned cultural figure Mr. Nan Huai-chin.

In the spring of 2023, the Chinese character "Fu" followed in the footsteps of Xiao Wunan's visits, becoming a beautiful and distinctive sight in various parts of the world.

Executive Editor: Li Chuanjun