On May 9, 2025, H.E. Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to China, led a delegation to visit the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA). This visit followed the recent “Youth Art Innovation Competition and Exhibition Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of UAE-China Diplomatic Relations” and marked another important milestone in the ongoing cultural and artistic exchange between China and the UAE. CAFA President Lin Mao held in-depth discussions with Ambassador Al Hammadi on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fields of culture and art and exploring new opportunities for collaborative art projects.

President Lin warmly welcomed Ambassador Al Hammadi and his delegation. He reflected on the success of the youth art competition and exhibition, which provided a high-quality platform for young artists from both countries to showcase their talents and exchange creative ideas. The event significantly contributed to the development of a younger and more diverse cultural exchange between China and the UAE. President Lin also introduced the recent achievements of CAFA in areas such as academic development, teaching innovation, and international exchange. He emphasized CAFA’s long-standing commitment to openness and inclusiveness, actively seeking opportunities for collaboration with art institutions worldwide. He expressed hope for broad-based cooperation with UAE universities and art organizations in areas including academic exchange, faculty and student visits, and joint artistic creation, with the goal of deepening China-UAE collaboration in the arts and injecting new vitality into the cultural prosperity of both nations.

Ambassador Al Hammadi expressed his sincere appreciation for CAFA’s warm reception. He shared his deep impression of the youth art competition and exhibition, which vividly demonstrated the boundless creativity and artistic talent of young artists from both countries. The Ambassador noted that the UAE government has long been committed to advancing arts education and encouraging cultural innovation and exchange. He highlighted the extensive common interests and opportunities for cooperation between China and the UAE in the cultural and artistic spheres. Deepening bilateral collaboration, he said, would not only promote cultural preservation and development in both countries, but also build a bridge of mutual understanding and friendship between their peoples. He looked forward to working with CAFA on more substantial projects in the future, co-creating cultural and artistic initiatives with global impact.

Following the discussions, Ambassador Al Hammadi and his delegation visited CAFA’s 2025 Graduate Exhibition, Chasing the Light. They were accompanied by Wang Chuan, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchanges; Jin Jun, Director of the CAFA Art Museum; and Gao Gao, Deputy Director of the Museum.