The University of Westminster, the China Media Centre, the 48 Group Club, Tiens, the UK Hebei Society and the Province of Hebei, China, co-organised the opening ceremony of the 2015 Beautiful Hebei photo exhibition, which was held at Fyvie Hall in the Regent Street campus. Supporting organisers included China.com.cn, China Investors Club, Yanfu Foundation, CRI Online, UK Chinese Entrepreneurs, and UKCTTA.
The exhibition showed 66 pictures of Hebei, groups into four parts — Today’s Hebei, Historical Hebei, Magnificent Colourful Hebei, and Olympic Hebei. Most of the pictures were in Fyvie Hall, but others were also in the main hall of the Regent Street campus.
From the University of Westminster and the China Media Centre, speeches were made by Professor Kerstin Mey, Dean of the Faculty of Media, Arts, and Design, and Professor Hugo de Burgh, Director of the China Media Centre.
Present at the ceremony were also a number of key persons from all walks of life. Speeches were given by Mr Stephen Perry, chairman of the 48 Group Club, well-respected in China-UK trade supporting UK companies entering China; Mr Fei Mingxin, Counselor and General Consul of the Chinese Embassy in the UK; Mr Jin Xu, Minister Counsellor of Chinese Embassy in the UK; May Xuemei Zhao, President of the UK Hebei Society, a well-established Chinese community; and Professor Kevin Malcolm McConkey, Senior Consultant of Tiens International University in charge of international affairs, involved in providing world-class education with Chinese students.
Following the ribbon-cutting, which was attended by VIP speakers, and speeches, the audience was treated to performances, including Peking Opera, solo guitar performances, solo Chinese folk songs, and a show featuring traditional Chinese cheongsam / qipao. Letters of congratulations from China on the occasion of the event were also read, which were sent by both the External PR Office of the Hebei Provincial CPC Committee, and the Hebei Provincial Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese.
The year 2015 is an important year for both the UK and China, with President Xi Jinping just completing an important state visit to the UK. This year has also been defined as the year of cultural exchange between Britain and China. The Beautiful Hebei expo is an opportunity for people in Britain to understand province better, and to enable Britain and Hebei to be involved more. The event also featured up to a hundred projects based in Hebei which are open to UK involvement.
The province of Hebei will also play co-host to the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, to be held in both the province itself, and in nearby Beijing, capital of China. Hebei will also be part of the greater Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei conurbation. It is also home to a key high speed railway plant in China.
The exhibition will run through to 06 November 2015 and features 66 pictures of Hebei, showcasing its history, brilliance, modernity, and the sports and Olympic aspects. This event takes place at Fyvie Hall in the Regent Street campus.
David Feng from the China Media Centre and Shuo Zhang hosted the event.
