CPPCC Member: Establishing Jingdezhen as Ceramic Culture Cen
Zheng Yi, President of the Pottery Workshop in Hong Kong and member of the 13th National Committee of the , proposed establishing Jingdezhen as a ceramic cultural exchange center and promoting the progress p of the .
"I pay special attention to the issues of culture, environmental protection and retraining programs for veterans," Zheng said in an interview.
Jingdezhen is a prefecture-level city in east China's Jiangxi Province. It is known as the "Porcelain Capital" because it has been producing pottery for 1,700 years and was one of the starting points of the ancient Silk Road and Maritime Silk Road.
I hope the Chinese government can fund and support the development of Jingdezhen, combine our domestic ceramic cultures with those overseas, and revitalize the city using the pottery industry, Zheng told a journalist from Women Voice.
The local government should launch more branded activities for cultural exchange, establish friendly relationships with foreign sister cities and actively promote Jingdezhen's cultural and economic development, Zheng added.
Under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, it has become an urgent task for the local authorities to improve the city's international influence, Zheng said.
In Jingdezhen, porcelain products are deeply appreciated by customers and enjoy a good reputation worldwide. Zheng urged relevant departments to organize multiple activities, strengthen international cultural exchanges and make full use of the impact of the "Porcelain Capital" in promoting the Belt and Road Initiative.
Mass production of porcelain has witnessed a decline in modern times. But with government support and innovation of traditional ceramics technology, Jingdezhen seeks to revitalize its ancient tradition and reclaim its global fame.
Zheng expressed her hope that the local foreign affairs office would speed up the process of relevant talent cultivation and improve staff's work ability and efficiency.
Zheng also recommended that the local government set up a committee to attract artists and scholars to exchange techniques in porcelain making and developing cultural programs.
Zheng studied in the United States in the 1980s and received bachelor's degrees in painting and zoology there. After obtaining a master's degree in sculpture at the San Francisco Art School, Zheng joined the Pottery Workshop.
The Pottery Workshop is a ceramic art education and communication center established in Hong Kong in 1985. Since it's beginning, four branches have been set up in Shanghai, Jingdezhen, Beijing, and most recently in Dali.
Zheng established the company's biggest branch in Jingdezhen in 2005 and invited artists from all over the world over the past few years.
The workshop has attracted a large number of ceramics graduates, ceramists and enthusiasts in recent years, injecting a profound new force and vitality into the city.
At this CPPCC session, Zheng will also give her understandings and views on people's livelihoods. Zheng told journalist that she hopes the government, the armed forces and enterprises can work together to retrain the military veterans and guarantee their basic needs.
