On the morning of June 5, the opening ceremony of the "2025 Chengdu Europe Culture Season" Latvian Artist's Field Trip in Chengdu was held at the Phoenix Mountain Cultural and Creative Park of the College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts, Chengdu University.

Co-hosted by the Chengdu Municipal People's Government Foreign Affairs Office and Chengdu University, and organized by the College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts, the event aims to deepen cultural and artistic exchanges between China and Latvia while promoting China-Europe people-to-people cooperation. Attendees included representatives from the Chengdu Municipal People's Government Foreign Affairs Office, Chengdu Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Jinniu District People's Government, College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts, the Latvian artists delegation, and Chengdu's cultural and artistic communities.

Si Beibei, Director of the European Division of the Chengdu Municipal People's Government Foreign Affairs Office, delivered a speech, stating that this tour serves as an important opportunity to strengthen Chengdu-Latvia friendship. She welcomed the Latvian artists to experience Chengdu deeply through workshops and field visits, hoping they would bring their "Chengdu impressions" back to Latvia to foster closer exchanges and cooperation.

Latvian artist representative  Jekaterina Baije expressed gratitude for Chengdu's warm hospitality, emphasizing the significance of this tour for Latvian artists. She noted that all participating artists share a passion for Chinese culture, and Chengdu's rich cultural heritage and unique urban landscape will inspire their creations. She looks forward to conveying China-Latvia friendship through art and deepening bilateral dialogue and collaboration in culture and arts.

Guo Daorong, Special Academic Vice Dean of the College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts, highlighted the college's commitment to supporting the artists' creative and exchange needs. He remarked that "culture bridges hearts, and art transcends borders," encouraging the Latvian artists to explore Chengdu's natural beauty, cultural charm, and developmental vibrancy, and to reflect the fusion and resonance of the two cultures through their works.

Si Beibei and Baikaixia, as Chinese and Latvian representatives, jointly watered an orchid symbolizing friendship, officially launching the tour and embodying the enduring and elegant bond between the two regions.

The event also featured a "Friendship Skirt" co-creation session. Chinese and international artists, including Chen Rong, Vice Chairman of the Chengdu Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and faculty and students from the College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts, painted on a specially designed dress, expressing their best wishes for China-Latvia friendship through art.

The tour will run until June 12, during which Latvian artists will explore Chengdu's streets and alleys to capture the city's landscapes and cultural vibes. Concurrently, the "Latvian Cultural Exhibition" opened on June 5, showcasing traditional and contemporary Latvian artworks, offering Chengdu residents a taste of Eastern European culture.

The College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts will leverage this tour and exhibition to further its role as an international cultural exchange platform, advancing Chengdu-Latvia collaboration in artistic creation and academic research. By fostering mutual appreciation through art, the college aims to strengthen China-Latvia people-to-people ties and contribute to a more dynamic cultural exchange landscape.