Li Quansheng, secretary of the CPC Ruzhou Committee, addresses a news conference on Sept 18 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to celebrate a new festival celebrating the art and skill of porcelain production in China.

The first China (International) Ru Porcelain Cultural Festival, celebrating the ancient art of making porcelain, will be held from Sept 23 to Sept 26 in Ruzhou in Henan province. An opening ceremony celebrating the new festival was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sept 18, and the news conference also described the introduction of the “China Daily Ruzhou English Channel.”

Wan Ying, the mayor of the Ruzhou People’s Government, delivers a speech on Sept 18 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sept 18 to describe the China (International) Ru Porcelain Culture Festival.

The festival is co-sponsored by the China Ceramic Industry Association, China Daily Press, the Henan province branch of the State Assets Administration Committee, the cultural department of Henan province and other local organizations. The Henan Management Association of Ceramic and Glass Industry, the Ruzhou municipal party committee and the Ruzhou people’s government planned the event.

During the festival, activities will a large-scale performance, a meeting for antiquities appreciation, an exhibit of the winning works of the contest for Ceramic Making Skills of Famous Ancient Porcelains, and an international seminar on the skills and art required to create Chinese Ru porcelain. The sixth annual “China Ru Porcelain Cup” National Calligraphy and Painting Contest also will take place during the festival.

He Tianxiong, director-general of the China Ceramic Industry Association, attends a news conference in Beijing on Sept 18 to celebrate a new festival celebrating the art and skill of porcelain production in China.

Ru porcelain was the most famous porcelain style of all five official porcelain styles in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Ru celadon, in particular, was renowned for its jade-like texture and glaze. As national gifts, Ru porcelains were once presented to former Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, former Korean president Kim Young-sam and former Israeli president Ezer Weizman.

Former Olympic ping-pong champion Deng Yaping also sent a piece of Ru porcelain artwork to Samaranch, who was then president of the International Olympic Committee, to celebrate their world-famous friendship. Many of the Ru porcelain works designed by famous ceramic experts were collected by the Great Hall of the People and the National Palace Museum in Beijing.

By holding the first China Ceramic Cultural Festival, Ruzhou hopes to promote traditional Chinese ceramic cultures and give a boost to the city’s porcelain industry.