On July 2, 2025, the Eiffel Tower shimmered in the sunlight under the clear blue skies of Paris, bearing witness to a cross-border cultural and artistic exchange.Reported and photographed by Wang Baosheng, Editor-in-chief of Chinese Cultural Figures

A delegation visited the International City of Arts (Cité internationale des arts) in Paris on July 2, 2025. The delegation included Qi Haifeng, Vice Chairman of the China Artists Association, and Zhang Qing, Chairman of Cheung Kong (China) Development Holdings Limited. The purpose of the visit was to promote cultural and artistic exchanges between China and France. They received a warm welcome from President Henri Loyrette and Director General Bénédicte Alliot of the International City of Arts, among others.

Vice Chairman Qi Haifeng and Chairman Zhang Qing, along with their delegation, visited the International City of Arts in Paris. They toured the facility accompanied by President Henri Loyrette and Director General Bénédicte Alliot.

Director General Bénédicte Alliot, introduced exhibitions by resident artists to Vice Chairman Qi Haifeng, Chairman Zhang Qing, and the delegation. The group also viewed a retrospective exhibition celebrating the 60th anniversary (1965–2025) of the International City of Arts in Paris.

Chairman Zhang Qing exchanged views with artists in front of exhibited works.

Chairman Zhang Qing and the delegation visited the International City of Arts in Paris.

Vice Chairman Qi Haifeng engaged in discussions with President Henri Loyrette.

Vice Chairman Qi Haifeng introduced President Henri Loyrette and others to the oil paintings created by Xu Li, former Vice Chairman of the China Artists Association and a renowned artist. Blending Eastern and Western styles, Xu’s paintings embody a philosophical reflection on life’s optimism, as well as the Zen conception of the unity of Heaven and humanity and the fusion of mind and matter. These paintings have been exhibited in countries such as Austria, Japan, the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, and the Netherlands, and are held in the collections of numerous government institutions, art collectors, and museums worldwide.

Accompanied by President Henri Loyrette and Director General Bénédicte Alliot, Vice Chairman Qi Haifeng and Chairman Zhang Qing toured the International City of Arts in Paris.

Vice Chairman Qi Haifeng donated his Chinese ink painting “Spring Scenery of the Taihang Mountains” to the International City of Arts in Paris.

Director General Bénédicte Alliot expressed gratitude to Vice Chairman Qi Haifeng for the donation.

Vice Chairman Qi Haifeng, Chairman Zhang Qing, President Henri Loyrette, and Director General Bénédicte Alliot posed for a group photo in front of the donated artwork.

President Henri Loyrette warmly welcomed Qi Haifeng and Zhang Qing’s visit.

Director General Bénédicte Alliot introduced the 60-year history of the International City of Arts in Paris since its establishment.

Director General Bénédicte Alliot shared insights into the new fields the International City of Arts in Paris has expanded into in recent years.

Vice Chairman Qi Haifeng fondly recalled his exhibition and cultural exchanges at the International City of Arts in Paris 25 years ago.

Chairman Zhang Qing engaged in in-depth discussions with President Henri Loyrette and Director General Bénédicte Alliot.

Reported and photographed by Wang Baosheng, Editor-in-chief of Chinese Cultural Figures: On July 2, 2025, to promote Sino-French cultural and artistic exchanges, a delegation including Qi Haifeng, Vice Chairman of the China Artists Association, and Zhang Qing, Chairman of Cheung Kong (China) Development Holdings Limited, visited the International City of Arts in Paris. The delegation was warmly received by President Henri Loyrette and Director General Bénédicte Alliot of the International City of Arts, among others. The two sides held extensive discussions on artistic exchanges between China and France.
The International City of Arts in Paris, with its long history and unique geographical location, has attracted artists from around the world to reside and create here, making it a vital platform for artistic exchange. Notably, as early as 2000, Qi Haifeng successfully held the “Qi Haifeng’s Oil Painting Exhibition” at this very venue. During the exhibition period, he traveled across Europe, immersing himself in Western art and encountering masterpieces by Van Gogh, Cézanne, and other great artists up close. This experience broadened his artistic horizons and led him to develop a new understanding of oil painting. Qi Haifeng candidly shared that, prior to this experience, his study of Western oil painting had relied mostly on textbooks and teachers' guidance. However, this firsthand exposure to the material expressiveness and artistic language struck him profoundly. The urgency to keep pace with global art trends had a lasting impact on his visual perception and intellectual awareness.
During the visit, Bénédicte Alliot gave a detailed presentation on the mission of the International City of Arts in Paris and its growing initiatives in recent years. She emphasized that, throughout its 60-year history, the International City of Arts has remained committed to providing artists worldwide with a space for residency, creation, and dialogue. The organization aims to foster exchanges among artists and offer them a high-quality platform to showcase their talents. Since 2017, the International City of Arts in Paris has launched new programs offering services to resident artists. Their creative processes are facilitated and connections with external networks are proactively forged through these initiatives. Resources from France and beyond are integrated to provide guidance, counsel, and promotional support for their individual and collective projects.
Henri Loyrette extended a warm welcome to Qi Haifeng and Zhang Qing. Emphasizing his great pleasure in receiving the renowned artist, who had previously resided at the International City of Arts in Paris, Henri Loyrette noted that Qi Haifeng's visit fully demonstrated the close artistic exchanges between China and France. Henri Loyrette pointed out that the mission of the International City of Arts is to promote French art globally while warmly welcoming artists from around the world to create and exchange here. In light of today's complex and changing global situation, Henri Loyrette added that contributing to world peace through artistic dialogue is also an important mission of the International City of Arts in Paris.
Qi Haifeng fondly recalled his exhibition and exchange experience at the International City of Arts in Paris 25 years ago. He reflected on how his residency gave him the precious opportunity to closely observe and learn from masterpieces. This experience proved immensely beneficial, greatly assisting his subsequent creative work and leading to his solo oil painting exhibition at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing in May 2008. Influenced by master artists such as Lin Fengmian, Xu Beihong, Li Keran, and Wu Guanzhong, he began exploring ways to integrate Western oil painting with traditional Chinese culture. He also ventured into Chinese ink landscape painting. As Henri Loyrette pointed out, art knows no borders. It allows people to recognize truth, goodness, and beauty from the heart, promotes mutual understanding, and helps cultural development.
Additionally, Zhang Qing held in-depth discussions with Henri Loyrette regarding Sino-French cultural and artistic exchanges and cooperation, laying the foundation for future collaboration in cultural and artistic fields.
During his visit, Qi Haifeng donated his Chinese ink painting "Spring Scenery of the Taihang Mountains" to the International City of Arts in Paris. The painting not only demonstrates Qi's superb artistic accomplishment, but also carries his sincere aspirations for Sino-French artistic exchange, serving as another testament to the friendly cultural interaction during this visit. The visit has initiated a new chapter in Sino-French cultural and artistic exchanges. Both parties are committed to utilizing the opportunity to deepen cooperation and elevate bilateral cultural and artistic exchanges to new heights.

(Edited by: Liu Sheng & Zhang Yan)