On the morning of June 5th, 2025, the opening ceremony of the 15th International Exhibition of Fine Arts was held successfully at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). The exhibition is guided by Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipality, and Shanghai Changning District People's Government; organised by the Shanghai Art Collection Museum and Shanghai Art & Design Academy and has received substantial support from the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (Shanghai) and various Consulate Generals.

      The opening ceremony gathered a distinguished assembly of guests from China and abroad. Among the Chinese guests were Wang Ronghua, former Vice Chairperson of the 10th Shanghai Municipal Committee of the CPPCC; Rong Shuqin, Vice President and Secretary-General of the China Folk Literature and Art Association; Cheng Meihong, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism; Chi Jie, Vice Chairperson of the Changning District Committee of the CPPCC; Zhu Bing, former Director of the Cultural Affairs Office of the Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Committee of the National People’s Congress; Li Guoqing, Deputy Director of the China International Import Expo Bureau and Vice President of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai); Xu Mei, Executive Deputy Director of the Committee of Ethnic and Religious Affairs of the Shanghai CPPCC and renowned calligrapher; Hou Yonggang, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Library; Zhang Zhiqiao, Second-Class Inspector of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism; Wang Luning, Executive Vice President of the Shanghai Children's Foundation; Zhang Linghao, President of Nanjing University of the Arts; and Li Chunping, Executive Vice President of Shanghai NGO Network for International Exchanges.

International guests included Okada Masaru, Consul General of Japan in Shanghai; Helmut Rakowitsch, Consul General of the Republic of Austria in Shanghai; Radu Lucian Fodoreanu, Consul General of Romania in Shanghai; Karel Srol, Consul General of the Czech Republic in Shanghai; Sherzod Narzullaev, Consul General of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Shanghai; Özlem Kural, Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Shanghai; Akmal Nur, President of the Academy of Arts of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Toshio Ohi Chozaemon XI, Academician of the Japan Art Academy and President of the Kanazawa Craft Association; Kamola Akilova, Director of the National Art Gallery of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Alumkojoeva Kulum, Director General of the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve of the Kyrgyz Republic; Charymurat Yazmuratov, Chairman of the Union of Artists of Turkmenistan; and Hanov Kakajan, Deputy Director of the State Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan.

"The International Exhibition of Traditional Fine Arts", which has been held for 15 successive years, has become a brand exhibition of international influence. The exhibition has been included in the program of building the brand of “Shanghai Culture” and in the major projects of “The Revitalization Plan of Shanghai Traditional Arts and Crafts”; it is also a key project of cultural exchange of the Shanghai Municipal Government to promote the "Belt and Road" Friendship City construction. This exhibition is a significant platform for international cultural communication in Shanghai. The program is also recognized as a key example of  China's government conducting The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The exhibition received many congratulatory letters and messages from distinguished leaders and institutional representatives both in China and abroad, reflecting its extensive international influence. These include Yan Junqi, Vice-chairperson of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People’s Congress; Wang Ronghua, Vice-chairperson of the 10th CPPCC Shanghai Committee; Atageldi Ashyrovich Shamyradov, Minister of Culture of Turkmenistan; Endah T.D. Retnoastuti, Director General of Cultural Diplomacy, Promotion, and Cooperation at the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia; Abdellatif Maâzouz, President of the Casablanca-Settat Regional Council, Kingdom of Morocco; Murayama Taku, Mayor of Kanazawa City, Japan; Parakhat Durdyev, Ambassador of Turkmenistan to China; Okada Masaru, Consul General (Ambassador) of Japan in Shanghai; Sherzod Narzullaev, Consul General of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Shanghai; Igor Pacolak, Consul General of the Slovak Republic in Shanghai; Helmut Rakowitsch, Consul General of the Republic of Austria in Shanghai; Gonzalo Figueroa, Consul General of the Republic of Chile in Shanghai; Miguel Gomez, Consul General of the Republic of Colombia in Shanghai; Laura Pye, Director of National Museums Liverpool; Ali Abdelhalim, Director General of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo; and Irwandi, Rector of the Indonesia Institute of the Arts Yogyakarta.

Remark by Chi Jie, Representative of Shanghai Changning People's Government, Vice-chairperson of Changning District Committee of the CPPCC

Remark by Okada Masaru, Consul General of Japan in Shanghai, Representative of Consulate Generals

Remark by Li Guoqing, Deputy Director of China International Import Expo Burea,  Vice-president of National Exhibition & Convention Center

Remark by Cheng Meihong, Deputy Director of Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, the guiding unit

Video presentation of Congratulatory Letters

Signing Ceremony of the International  Tour Exhibition of Tradtional Chinese Fine Arts (Casablanca Station) between Shanghai Art Collection Museum, Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center, Shanghai Arts Reseach Center, and Shanghai Art & Design Academy

Signing Ceremony of Tour Exhibition of the 15th International Exhibition of Fine Arts in Jiading(Juyuan) between Shanghai Art Collection Museum, Shanghai Art & Design Academy and Juyuan New District Management Committee, Jiading District

Donating Artists Accpeting Awards

Congratulatory Words Signing Ceremony 

by Consul Generals and Deputy Consul Generals

Congratulatory Words Signing Ceremony by Representatives of Government Departments and Institutes of Various Countries

Relevant Leaders Launching the Exhibition

The exhibition, themed “Harmony in Diversity,” has attracted over 150 participants, including artists, master craftsmen, and national-level intangible cultural heritage inheritors from 38 countries, including China, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Slovakia, Romania, France, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Croatia, Armenia, Chile, Colombia, Indonesia and various other countries. This year’s event also features the debut of works by several nationally treasured artists, making it the largest edition to date.

Attendees at the opening ceremony also included David Vojtisek, Deputy Consul General of the Czech Republic in Shanghai; Kutbiddin Ubaydullaev, Deputy Consul General of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Shanghai; Neda Shadram, Deputy Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Shanghai; Hector Angulo, Deputy Consul General of the Republic of Colombia in Shanghai; Sri Kusumawati, Director of Jakarta Museum of Ceramics and Fine Arts, Indonesia; Chen Kele, Director of the International Exchange Division of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism; Chen Ping, Director of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Division; Qian Fei, First-Class Researcher of the Cultural Affairs Division of the Information Office of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government; Chen Yongliang, Deputy Director of the Consular Division of the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office; Song Nini, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Changning District Committee and Secretary and Director of the Party Leadership Group of the Changning District Culture and Tourism Bureau; Cui Lixia, Secretary and Director of the Party Leadership Group of the Changning District Civil Affairs Bureau; Borja Eguizábal, President of the Rioja Wine Association of the Kingdom of Spain and Heir to the Century-Old Bodegas Franco-Españolas; along with consular representatives from multiple countries, delegates from relevant municipal and district government departments, representatives of participating institutions from other provinces, and renowned figures from both Chinese and international artistic and cultural communities.

Following the opening ceremony, representatives also participated in a key event held along with the 15th International Exhibition of Traditional Fine Arts — the 2025 International (Shanghai) Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Forum.

At the opening ceremony, the Changning District Administration of Culture and Tourism and the Shanghai Arts and Crafts Vocational College organized a display and interactive experience of intangible cultural heritage, inviting international guests to experience firsthand the unique charm of traditional Chinese craftsmanship.