(19 October 2018)

The Opening Ceremony of Jonathan KS Choi Centre for the Promotion of Cultural Heritage – sponsored by Dr Jonathan Choi, Chairman of Hong Kong conglomerate Sunwah Group – officially took place on October 16^th at Arab World Institute in Paris, France. In the Ceremony, the exhibition “Ancient City: Virtual Travel of Palmyre to Mosul” was launched with the support of Jonathan KS Choi Foundation. H.E. Emmanuel Macron, President of France; Mr Franck Riester, Minister of Culture; Mr Jack Lang, former Minister of Culture and Minister of Education; many members of French Parliament, the Minister of Finance, the General Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Ambassador of Japan in France and diplomats from various countries were present at the event.

First row, from left to right: Dr Jonathan Choi, Chairman of Jonathan KS Choi Foundation; President of France H.E. Emmanuel Macron; and Mr Jack Lang, former French Minister of Culture and former Minister of Education

During his speech, Dr Jonathan Choi emphasized that the power of culture could stride across country borders, across time and space to become the common exquisite heritage of humankind. He pointed out the leading role of Chinese – French culture exchange among China’s cultural exchanges with all foreign countries, especially with Western nations. He expressed that it was an immense loss for the world to see many cultural heritages getting obliterated day by day for various reasons. In this exhibition, some of these heritages such as four ancient cities in Iraq, Syria and Libya have been reproduced using modern photo-electricity technology with the hope to bring the quintessence of ancient civilization back to our sight. He stated that Chinese’s once lost heritages such as Yuanming Yuan and Dunhuang could also be revived with this technology.

Dr Jonathan Choi (left) delivered speech at the Opening Ceremony of Jonathan KS Choi Center for Promotion of Cultural Heritage

Lost cultural heritage is reproduced using modern photo-electricity technology

Two years ago, responding to the invitation of the then President of French Republic François Hollande, Jonathan KS Choi Foundation sponsored the France National School of Fine Arts to establish Jonathan KS Choi Cultural Center in Paris. Thereafter, Jonathan KS Choi Foundation went on to support and sponsor the Chinese – French Spring program for two consecutive years, organizing multiple concerts to perform French famous composers’ music in many cities all over China.

In the first half of 2018, Jonathan KS Choi Foundation also cooperated with France Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Museum of China, France National School of Fine Arts and France National Visual Arts Centre to bring 130 masterpieces to travel across the ocean to Beijing National Museum and Kunming Museum in Yunnan to exhibit. Among these, there were paintings that were brought out of Europe for the first time, causing remarkable sensations in Beijing and Kunming, effectively contributing to the popular culture exchange between China and France.

Translated from: Takungpao