上海东方读书俱乐部受邀出席美国驻沪总领馆国庆日活动

Unexpectedly, as a public welfare organization for Sino-US folk cultural interaction, some members of our Shanghai Oriental Reading Club team were invited to attend the US National Day event held by the US Consulate General in Shanghai on July 4.

At the US National Day event, our artist team received guidance from Xia Yongfang, a senior leader in Shanghai's foreign affairs field and a pioneer in New China's diplomatic field. Her on-site guidance made the atmosphere more lively and enthusiastic.

After discussion by the board of directors, representatives to participate in the event were selected. Famous Chinese painter Zhou Genbao and his wife Fan Dongqing. We introduced Fan Dongqing's legend, she is a contemporary Chinese cultural relics appraiser. We also playfully introduced to other consuls general: "You can invite Ms. Fan to appraise cultural relics across borders!"

Chen Biao, director of the Art Committee of Shanghai Oriental Reading Club, attended the event with intangible cultural "Lu'an Ink Paste" and calligraphy works in his unique way. It turns out that several consuls around US Consul General in Shanghai Jamie Fouss are well-versed in Chinese culture. In Shanghai dialect, they are "clear-headed friends". To express gratitude to Consul General Jamie Fouss for his support and help in promoting Sino-US folk cultural exchanges, Chen Biao gave a box of "Lu'an Ink Paste". Who could have guessed that the next day, we received information that this jar of ink paste had been displayed in the national gift display cabinet of the US Consulate General in Shanghai. Cultural exchange lies in mutual understanding. A small box of ink paste is a testament to Sino-US folk friendship. The artists still have an inseparable affection for Consul General Jamie Fouss.

Our artists Li Zui and Li Xinwei were also invited to the event. The works of these two artists were also highly sought after by the consuls general's wives in Shanghai.

Folk cultural and artistic exchanges will continue to advance. We welcome American artists to schedule time to come to the Shanghai Oriental Reading Club for residency and creative exchanges. Happily, the residency exchange program has been successfully launched. The expectations are beautiful.