Tea or coffee? At the recently concluded China Unlimited Creative Contest, Belgian artist Lieve Dejongbe used tea and coffee as a theme to showcase the differences and similarities between Chinese and European cultures.
In the award-winning painting, to the left was a cup of coffee and some chocolates on the table, while to the right was a cup of tea and some Chinese sesame sweets.
"However different people of different cultures can be, when we know them better they are all humans with similar aspirations, similar feelings," Dejongbe said of the painting, noting she initially experienced misunderstandings but gradually discovered the warmth of the Chinese people on several trips through China.
A total of 15 winners of the contest were announced in Brussels on Tuesday during the EU-China High-Level People-to-People Dialogue, in the presence of the Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong and EU Commissioner Tibor Navracsics.
The contest, which was organized by the Chinese Mission to the European Union, received over 500 contributions from 339 participants, with almost 330 submissions in the photography category alone. Participants joined from almost all EU member states and from every walk of life.
In another award-winning photo named "A Tittle-Tattle," Belgian photographer Richard De Nul demonstrated two old women from the Chinese Miao minority in southwest Guizhou Province speaking intimately.
"China has recognized 56 ethnic minorities and tries to keep this rich and valuable cultural heritage alive. This is not always easy in this very fast evolving society were youngsters leave the countryside for a new life. Nevertheless, life is beautiful and people work hard on the fields but are happy and joyful," said De Nul.
Carl Anders Sven Hullin, a winner from Sweden, made for the contest a painting of two babies sitting together against the backdrop of Chinese and EU flags.
"China and Europe are now much more equal partners, and I believe that China will inevitably surpass Europe in most respects. I hope to be there in 40 years to observe the results (of the development of bilateral ties)," he said.
"It impresses me very much the unity of Chinese religion, science, economy and openness to various other cultures," said another winner Dimitar Papukchiev.
"The contest is about opening up the discussion to citizens across Europe and seeing China through a fresh pair of eyes," said Eva Paunova, the ambassador of the contest and one of the youngest Members of European Parliament, at the awarding ceremony.
The contest was launched in April as an important part to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China-EU relationship this year.
