China Media Group (CMG) celebrated 55 years of diplomatic relations between China and Italy with a grand awards ceremony in Beijing on Friday, recognizing artists and cultural ambassadors who have strengthened ties between the two nations. The event, titled "From Beijing to Rome," honored 141 Chinese artists and highlighted cross-cultural collaboration ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
The ceremony followed a June art exhibition at Rome's prestigious Lincean Academy, co-organized with Italy's Ministry of Culture. Featuring over 100 contemporary Chinese artworks and rare Italian cultural relics, the exhibition showcased calligraphy, traditional paintings, and intangible heritage crafts. Chang Shana, a renowned 92-year-old scholar of Dunhuang art, received a lifetime achievement award for her decades of work bridging Eastern and Western aesthetics.
"Cultural exchange is the heartbeat of international understanding," said a CMG representative during the event. The initiative aligns with growing economic partnerships between China and Italy, which saw bilateral trade reach $78.9 billion in 2023. With the 2026 Winter Olympics approaching, observers note such cultural diplomacy could enhance people-to-people connections and create new opportunities for collaboration in design, tourism, and creative industries.
