Beijing Women's Federation

In September, 2013, invited by Moscow government and entrusted by Beijing Foreign Affairs Office, Beijing Women Artists delegation (8 people altogether),m under the leadership of Zhou Zhijun, Vice Chairwoman of Beijing Women's Federation, attended the ninth “Moscow International Handicraft Festival” held in Moscow, during which Zhou discussed the role of women’s organizations in promoting friendly exchange between China and Russia and deepening the bond of “Beijing-Moscow” sister cities with Chinese Embassy in Russia, Chinese and Russian Cultural Exchange Center and Moscow Department of Economics and International Relations. 

“Moscow International Handicraft Festival” is an important cultural activity held by Moscow government once a year and also the biggest cultural activity in the field of Russian handicrafts and national art. Beijing Women’s Federation organized and selected famous women handicraft artists to participate in the exhibition. At the festival, the artists showed Chinese exquisite skill, unique aesthetic taste, profound cultural connotation and high integration of traditional art with modern craft through Cloisonne Enamel Painting, dough figurine, paper-cut, Beijing embroidery, facial makeup and other Chinese traditional handicrafts, and were highly praised by many participants and handicraft artists from other countries.

At the round-table conference of handicraft development held during the festival, Zhang Lihua, the Secretary General of Beijing Women Artists Handicraft Development Promotion Association, introduced the active role of women artists handicraft industry in promoting traditional handicraft inheritance and development and facilitating women’s employment with the support of Beijing Women’s Federation, which was praised and accepted by representatives from different countries at the conference.

Moreover, the delegation talked over with Moscow Department of Economics and International Relations, Chinese and Russian Cultural Exchange Center and other organizations, strengthening the mutual understanding of both countries, and reached agreement on assigning delegations to participate in Moscow International Handicraft Festival and China (Beijing) International Women & Children Industry Expo, organizing culture and art exhibitions and other programs in 2014.