Cypriot Ambassador to China Koula Sophianou emphasized the importance of promoting people-to-people relations between China and her country at all levels, especially through education and cultural exchanges, during an event called the Diplomat's Day Reception in Beijing on Dec 12.
Sophianou, who has been in China for three months, also expressed her deep impressions of the hospitality of the Chinese people, the country's rich history and culture, as well as its innovative young people.
"I had the opportunity to meet many young people at different events. They were all focused on improving themselves through innovation," she said.
"It shows how much emphasis is given here on education, innovation and technology," the envoy added at the event in Beijing, which was hosted by Beijing Comprehensive Services for Diplomatic Missions Co Ltd, the official service provider for foreign embassies, diplomats and international organizations in China.
Sophianou proposed that Chinese and Cypriot students should visit each other's countries to foster better communications and to enhance mutual understanding.
"I hope that in the future, we will have more cooperation between universities so that Chinese students can visit Cyprus," she said.
"And I also hope that Cypriot students will be able to come to China so that they can get to experience its rich culture firsthand," Sophianou added.
Colonel Alejandro Cesar Delgado Rivero, Deputy Army Attache of the Republic of Peru's embassy in China, echoed Sophianou's sentiments and extended an invitation to Peruvian students to come and study in China.
"This is a message to Peruvian students. Come to China," he declared. "China is an amazing country, an interesting country and the culture is beautiful. Definitely come to China," said the Peruvian officer.
The event attracted many diplomats from different countries who were keen to learn about the charms of intangible cultural heritage such as paper cutting from Fengning Manchu autonomous county in North China's Hebei province. Many ecological and organic products were also on display.
"Through these gorgeous intangible cultural heritage works crafted with ingenuity and traditional techniques, the guests can have a first-hand experience of the folk aesthetics and life wisdom of China," said Zhang Chi, deputy director-general of the Beijing Service Bureau for Diplomatic Missions.
Among the highlights of the event was the incense culture, which impressed many diplomats. They expressed particular interest in participating in the traditional Chinese incense ceremony, or Xiangyi, which is similar to the 'tea ceremony' — emphasizing ritual and mindfulness.
The country's incense culture boasts a long history, and the process of crafting incense seals helps people to calm their minds, while the medicinal incense Plague-Averting Incense can prevent influenza, according to Chen Xi, vice-president of the Beijing Huitong Xiangxue Cultural Development Research Institute.
The Diplomat's Day Reception also featured performances rich in ethnic characteristics from Fengning — offering a vivid presentation of China's diverse cultural heritage through folk displays and musical performances, creating a veritable feast of the senses for all attendees.
The event drew over 150 diplomats, including the ambassadors of Cyprus and Uruguay, together with their families and guests from different walks of life. Commodities from Mongolia, Cyprus, Slovakia and Belgium were also on display at the event.
