King Hamad of Bahrain met with the Chinese Culture and Art Delegation

      HH Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, hosted the meeting with the Chinese Culture & Art Delegation on June 27 at the Riffa Palace in Manama. The King had a cordial conversation with Long Yuxiang, the head of the delegation, Executive Chairman of China International Cultural Communication Center, the King congratulated on the successful convening of the Spotlight on Ink—2013 Chinese Calligraphy & Ink Art Exhibition in Bahrain, he also expressed a fervent hope that cultural communication between China and Bahrain would be further enhanced through which friendship between the two peoples would be promoted in the future. The King said that he was honored by the hosting of the 2013 United Nations Public Service Forum, Day and Awards Ceremony. He extended a enthusiastic welcome to political heavyweights and delegates alike from across the globe, especially to the calligraphy and painting exhibition organized by the CICCC, which added greatly to the glamour of the UN event and became a brilliant attraction. When holding Mr. Long’s hand, the King also spoke highly of the delicacy and extensity of the Chinese culture, he praised the impressive scale of the exhibition and the high quality of the artworks displayed. The king stated that the arts of Chinese came through the Silk Road in the ancient time to the Persian Gulf, the people of Bahrain had had the chance to appreciate them since then. Nevertheless the Kingdom had never been the host of any Chinese art exhibition before this time. The opening of the Spotlight on Ink—2013 Chinese Calligraphy & Painting Art Exhibition was the first time of its kind in Manama. The exhibition proved to be a great success and was remarkably adored by the people of Bahrain. He wished that more and wider cultural exchanges between China and Bahrain would be carried out; the relationship between the two countries would be tightened. He hoped he would have a chance to visit China.

HH Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, meet with Executive Chairman of CICCC Long Yuxiang  ( photo by Long Ren )

      Executive Chairman Long Yuxiang passed on Chairman Isma’il Tiliwaldi’s respect to His Highness the King of Bahrain. Long also expressed heartfelt thanks for the hospitality and support received by the Chinese Culture & Art Delegation, without which the Art Exhibition would never have realized. The Kingdom of Bahrain along with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs earned the Delegation’s gratitude in this regard. Mr. Long appreciated the King’s fondness for Chinese calligraphy and painting alike, saying culture reflected the spirit of a nation which formed a bridge through which to communicate with the rest of the world become viable. The Chinese side had been striving to promote mutual understanding between the Chinese people and that of the Bahrain, to enhance collaborations in the fields such as culture, economy as well as trade. Long expected exchanges carried out in a wider range in the future, he extended his invitation to the King to visit China at a convenient time.

The King of Bahrain signed on the Spotlight on Ink Exhibition brochure   ( photo by Long Ren )

Speaker of Council of Representatives of Bahrain Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al-Dhahrani meet with Executive Chairman of CICCC Long Yuxiang 

( photo by Long Ren )

      Speaker of the Council of Representatives of Bahrain Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al-Dhahrani, Shura Council Chairman Ali Saleh Bin Abdullah Al Saleh and China’s ambassador to Bahrain Li Chen attended the meeting. Organized by the CICCC, Spotlight on Ink—2013 Chinese Calligraphy & Painting Art Exhibition was held at the Bahrain International Circuit on June 25. 70 artworks from more than 30 contemporary Chinese artists attracted a mass international audience consisting of delegates attending the UN event from over 90 nations cross the globe and visitors from the hosting country.

Shura Council Chairman Ali Bin Abdullah Al Saleh meet with Executive Chairman of CICCC Long Yuxiang   ( photo by Long Ren )

Group photo of speaker of the House of Representatives and Senate of Bahrain, China’s ambassador Li Chen, head of the Chinese Delegation and concurrent chairman of CICCC Long Yuxiang   ( photo by Long Ren )