Mayor Sharon Gaetz speaks Tuesday to Chinese delegates and other guests at Asai's Art Gallery.
Photograph by: Paul J. Henderson , TIMES
Twenty-six Chinese cultural officials visited Chilliwack Tuesday as part of the annual Hands Across the Pacific international art show.
Members of the cultural delegation came from across China, including the city of Beijing and six different provinces: Zhejiang, Henan, Hubei, Sichuan, Guangxi and Hainan.
The group took part in the closing ceremony for the show at Asai's Art Gallery and were joined by Mayor Sharon Gaetz, local artists Patricia Jaster and Myrtle-Anne Rempel, and members of the local Canadian International Cultural Exchange Society.
This was the 13th annual year for the exhibition, which features contemporary art from Canada, China and Japan.
The delegation of Chinese were local government officials involved in cultural issues and were associated with the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC).
CPAFFC director Zhou Jianping said China is put-ting a great focus on cultural collaborations with other countries.
"I think this experience is very crucial for us," Jianping said.
After the ceremony at Asai Wu-Brandt's Wellington Avenue gallery, the group was scheduled to tour the Chilliwack Cultural Centre, the Leisure Centre and Prospera Centre before lunch and sightseeing to Bridal Falls.
