On June 3, local time in Italy, “2015 Shanghai & Florence- Season for Creation between Two Cities” was officially inaugurated in Shanghai & Florence-Sino Italian Design Exchange Center constructed by DOBE.
“2015 Shanghai & Florence- Season for Creation between Two Cities” is co-sponsored by China Corporate United Pavilion for Expo Milan 2015 and Shanghai & Florence-Sino Italian Design Exchange Center, co-organized by Tongji University, supported by Florence Municipal Government, UNESCO “Creative City” (Shanghai) Promotion Office, and Shanghai Promotion Center for City of Design. During the Expo, “Season for Creation between Two Cities” will hold 13 cross-border cultural exchange activities between the two countries in Florence, including “Sino-Italian Design Thinking Exhibition”, “Sino-Italian Architects Forum”, “Shanghai Style Cheongsam Culture Forum”, “One Belt, One Road” Four New Economies Forum, and “Exhibition of Jinshan Farmers’ Paintings”, etc. Those events not only will display the original brand design works of Moma Design, Shanghai Watch, Shoubai Art, Huawei Honor, and works of outstanding independent designers. They will integrate the hot topic in Shanghai “Design Starts a Smart Urban Life” with the theme of Expo Milan, cleverly combine food, design and lifestyle, to express that smart design is a people-oriented sustainable development pattern.
60 representatives from Chinese and Italian governments, enterprises and institutions, including Wang Fuguo, Consul General of the Consulate of China in Florence, Zhang Xiping, Shanghai Municipal Party Committee’s Deputy Secretary in charge of Economy and Casermation Technology, Huang Yaocheng, Vice Curator of China Corporate United Pavilion of Expo 2015 Milan, Fu Yixiang, Vice Chairman of China-Italy Chamber of Commerce, Giovanni Bettarini, Deputy Mayor of Florence, Stefano Giovannelli, Tuscany Investment Promotion Bureau, Curia Mario, Vice Chairman of Florence General Chamber of Commerce, Mirko Dormentoni, Head of Florence 4th Region, attended to inauguration.
At the inauguration, Wang Leyi, Secretary General of Shanghai Promotion Center for City of Design read the letter of congratulation by Zhou Bo, Deputy Mayor of Shanghai, to “Season for Creation between Two Cities”. In the letter, Zhou Bo says: “this year, on the occasion of Expo Milan, Sino Italian Design Exchange Center’s Florence Base has the honor to serve as the Extra Pavilion of the China Corporate United Pavilion for Expo 2015 Milan. The Season for Creation between Two Cities held here will be an experience of ‘Sino-Italian Cross-border Fusion’. Taking advantage of Expo Milan 2015 and the 45th Anniversary of Establishing Diplomatic Relations between China and Italy, it will build a bigger exchange platform for Chinese enterprises to go out.” In the letter, Zhou Bo specially thanks Florence Municipal Government and Mayor Nardella for their full support to Sino Italian Design Exchange Center. He firmly believes both governments will grasp this opportunity to build a intercity exchange window between ‘City of Design’ Shanghai and ‘Palace of Culture’ Florence, make Sino Italian Design Exchange Center a mutual learning and exchange platform for the two countries’ creative design industries, promote both sides’ exchange and project operation in design and fashion fields, to realize common development and common prosperity.
Afterward, Zhang Xiping, Shanghai Municipal Party Committee’s Deputy Secretary in charge of Economy and Casermation Technology read the Opening Address for Season for Creation between Two Cities on behalf of Shanghai People’s Government and Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Casermation Technology. Mr. Zhang expressed his idea that both Shanghai and Florence have long-standing histories, cultures, and important economic strength and influence; both sides want to promote industrial cooperation and common development through the platform of Sino Italian Design Exchange Center, and the cooperation and exchange between Shanghai and Florence in design and innovation.
Huang Yaocheng, Vice Curator of China Corporate United Pavilion of Expo 2015 Milan, brought good wishes from China Corporate United Pavilion. He wished Season for Creation between Two Cities could bring Sino-Italian relations to a new stage, and make Florence a bright pearl on the grand blueprint of “One Belt, One Road” taking advantage of the Expo.
Zhang Xiping, Shanghai Municipal Party Committee’s Deputy Secretary in charge of Economy and Casermation Technology read the Opening Address
Giovanni Bettarini, Deputy Mayor of Florence, gave a speech