April 26, 2024

Secretary-General Almagro and Ms. Marín,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Friends,

Welcome to the Experience Chinese Fashion and Arts event at the Chinese Embassy. First of all, let me thank members of the Chantel Gong Art Troupe led by Ms. Gong Hangyu, who have come a long way from China, and the Xuejuan Dance Ensemble, for leading us to explore the unique charm of qipao through fashion show, dance and styling. It is a great pleasure to co-host the event with the Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide, and have all of you here with us today for a journey into Chinese fashion and art.

Qipao is one of a kind. Known for its exquisite traditional craftsmanship, qipao has been listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage in China. With its iconic style and aesthetic and cultural value, qipao fully embodies the grace and confidence of Chinese women. In 2014, it was the outfit for leaders’ spouses at the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Beijing. 

Qipao is both traditional and modern. It has evolved from Qing Dynasty court attire into everyday clothing, serving as a testimony to how girls and women of the new era break free from convention and embrace independence.

Qipao is both of China and of the world. Known as a national treasure, it is the quintessence of Chinese elegance, and has also gained global appeal by integrating Eastern and Western elements. For instance, the Shanghai-style qipao, which originated in my hometown, is an epitome of Shanghai culture featuring diversity and inclusiveness. Many Hollywood stars have made public appearances in qipao, and the dress is a constant source of inspiration for designers of global brands. 

Attire is a window to understand China. The Chinese civilization has run uninterrupted for thousands of years, exploring new ground through reform and innovation, and gaining fresh vigor through drawing on other cultures. 

Over 2,100 years ago, Zhang Qian, a Han Dynasty envoy, made a journey westward, building bridges of exchanges between Eastern and Western cultures. In the Tang Dynasty, China exchanged envoys with over 70 countries, and its capital Chang’an bustled with people from around the world. From the introduction of Buddhism and Western learning, to all-round opening-up since 1978, Chinese civilization has both retained its uniqueness and kept contributing to human civilization, and enriched itself through interactions and mutual learning with other cultures. China today is opening its arms wider to embrace the world, and creating a better world with a more dynamic civilization.

Beauty is everywhere. What is lacking is not beauty, but eyes to perceive her, and a big heart and an open mind to appreciate the beauty of all civilizations. China and the United States are different in history, culture, social system and development path. Nevertheless, these should not hamper our exchanges, but should encourage us to learn from each other.  

In recent years, especially during this Spring Festival, more and more young people have become fascinated with the neo-Chinese style. OOTDs (outfit of the day) such as Chinese-style tops with jeans and T-shirts with horse-face skirts are gaining traction, in a perfect combination of Chinese and Eastern attire and traditional and modern aesthetics. The Three Body Problem, adapted from Chinese sci-fi bestsellers, is now on Netfix. Kung Fu Panda 4, a fusion of Chinese and Western culture, is in theaters. All these have proven again that there is every reason why different civilizations can prosper respectively and together.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Friends,

As an idiom goes, “A single flower does not make a spring.” There are over 200 countries and regions in this world, with more than 2,500 ethnic groups and multiple religions. Each and every kind of attire, music and lifestyle is irreplaceable and is a shared treasure of mankind. 

This is why China has put forward the Global Civilization Initiative. We look forward to working with other countries to jointly advocate the respect for the diversity of civilizations, the common values of humanity, the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. It is our hope that fashion and art will serve as bridges for China-U.S. cultural exchanges and mutual learning, and inject impetus into dialogue between and common progress of all civilizations.

I wish you all a wonderful evening! Thank you.