STORY: London unveils "Building Contemporary China" architecture exhibition
DATELINE: Oct. 1, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:55
LOCATION: London
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the exhibition
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): VALERIE VAUGHAN-DICK, RIBA chief executive officer
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): LI LIYAN, Minister counselor for cultural affairs of Chinese Embassy in Britain

STORYLINE:

From city museum to rural teahouse, an architecture exhibition showcasing diverse projects designed by Chinese architects kicked off in London on Friday.

Under the theme "Building Contemporary China," the exhibition is being held at the headquarters of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), hoping to enrich an understanding of the techniques and approaches that characterize contemporary Chinese architecture projects and how these relate to the country's broader culture and society.

Projects on display are works from 11 leading Chinese architects, including the Shougang Xishi Winter Olympics Plaza, the Erlitou Site Museum of the Xia Capital and the African Union Headquarters and Conference Complex in Addis Ababa.

Exploring themes such as urban renewal, rural revival and environmental renovation, the exhibition showcases models, images, films and drawings, providing insight into how Chinese architects adapt to a rapidly changing world.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): VALERIE VAUGHAN-DICK, RIBA chief executive officer
"'Building Contemporary China' will take visitors on a journey through the last 30 years of building practice in China. As we know, those 30 years have been an unprecedented change, not just cultural, but economic and social in China. When you look at the exhibition, you really see and feel a part of that change."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): LI LIYAN, Minister counselor for cultural affairs of Chinese Embassy in Britain
"Architecture is a powerful vessel that encapsulates a nation's culture and history, serving as one of the most prominent and tangible expressions of its identity. Architectural development in the U.K. has a rich and diverse history that spans many centuries. Both China and the UK represent the East and the West civilizations and share the same qualities of openness and inclusiveness, which are exemplified in our architectural and cultural exchanges."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from London.
(XHTV)