A cultural event titled "Encountering Flowers -- a Song Dynasty Elegant Gathering at the China Pavilion" was held with great grandeur at Expo City Dubai on Saturday, offering Chinese and international guests an immersive journey through time and culture.
The elegant gatherings of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), known as "Yaji," were cultural and intellectual events held among scholars, poets, and artists of the time.
Often hosted in private settings such as gardens or scholars' residences, these gatherings featured refined activities like poetry composition, calligraphy, painting, and philosophical discussions, playing an important role in the flourishing of classical Chinese culture during the Song Dynasty by emphasizing harmony, subtlety, and intellectual depth.
The cultural feast began with a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) wedding performance, captivating Chinese and foreign guests with its solemn yet elegant ceremony and rich cultural atmosphere.
Building on this immersive experience, the event continued with a series of Song Dynasty Yaji activities, featuring demonstrations of over 10 traditional arts, including tea whisking, calligraphy, guqin, Go, and paper-cutting.
The gathering was hosted by the Chinese Consulate General in Dubai and organized by the China-UAE Economy and Trade Exchange Center in collaboration with the Yuxiangyuan Traditional Culture Center.
Song Dynasty elegant gathering event held at Expo City Dubai
Chinese President Xi Jinping awarded Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China in Beijing on Monday.
As solemn music played and the golden doors slowly opened, Xi and Vucic entered the hall together, followed by Xi's wife Peng Liyuan and Vucic's wife Tamara Vucic.
Applauding guests rose to their feet, and paid respect to the two heads of state.
A Guard of Honor escorted the Friendship Medal into the hall, and amid solemn music, Xi formally presented the medal to Vucic.
Xi highlighted Vucic's long-standing commitment to advancing China-Serbia friendship and underscored the significance of the honor.
"President Vucic has long stayed committed to China-Serbia friendship, and he has always given China the firmest and clearest support on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns. He gains the respect from the Chinese people. This medal is not only a high recognition of President Vucic's contributions to bilateral friendship, but also carries the earnest expectations of both peoples for building a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era," Xi said.
The Friendship Medal is China's highest state honor for foreigners, reserved for those who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization drive, promoting exchange and cooperation between China and the world, and safeguarding world peace.
At the invitation of Xi, Vucic is on a state visit to China from Sunday to Thursday, with this marking his first state visit to China and his ninth trip to the country overall.
Xi awards Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic China's friendship medal
