Last Monday the Mission of China to the EU hosted an award ceremony in Brussels to honour winners of a creative contest marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union. Held under the theme “Reviewing the 50-Year Journey of China-EU Relations, Joining Hands to Embrace a Shared Future,” the event brought together more than 150 guests, highlighting the achievements of China-EU ties, and showcasing the cultural diversity and mutual engagement, that have defined the enduring relationship.
The ceremony was joined by guests of honours, including Chinese Ambassador to the European Union Cai Run, former President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, Minister Zhu Jing, diplomats, scholars, artists, and media representatives. The presentation of certificates to the contest winners, an exhibition of their works, and some live cultural performances were the highlights of the ceremony.
6 May 2025 marks 50 years of China–EU diplomatic relations.
“In just a few days, on May 6th, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU. At this important juncture where the two sides take stock of the past and look into the future, we hold this creative contest, hoping that every one of you can join the celebration of the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations through your hard work and inspiration-filled works, to deepen mutual understanding between the peoples and promote the sound and steady growth of China-EU relations,” said H.E. Ambassador Cai Run.
Ambassador Cai Run also noted that the creative contest aimed to celebrate this anniversary through the lens of artistic expression, encouraging people from both regions to reflect on their shared history and experiences and envision a future of deeper cooperation.
The contest, launched in January 2025, received over 300 submissions from participants across China and Europe. The contestants presented works in various formats, including short videos, cartoons, and photography, offering personal reflections, cultural insights, and creative visions of China-EU relations. The entries were judged by a panel of jury, who selected winners for first, second, and third prizes, along with a special “Best Popularity Award”.
| Category | Winning entry | First prize winners |
| Short Video | 18 million followers, 20 years in China, 3 big lessons | Sander Kole |
| Short Video | Back to my roots | Lidewij Nuitten |
| Cartoon | Cultural exchange between the two regions through a festive scene | Yasemin Unal |
| Photography | Wukong | Laure Huang |
The presented works were diverse in both style and topic, yet each expressed messages of knowledge, collaboration, and richness of culture. Sander Kole‘s video reflected on twenty years of experience living in China, and Lidewij Nuitten‘s work followed a journey returning to roots. Yasemin Unal’s animation gave life to the concept of cross-region festivity, and Laure Huang’s photo, entitled Wukong, was a symbolic representation connecting tradition to modernity.
As the two regions face the future, the contest and its festive ceremony are a reminder of the soft power of cultural exchange in global affairs. By facilitating exchange through art and storytelling, the Mission of China to the EU has helped reassert the importance of people-to-people relations in the building of a shared future.
