The culture of diplomacy

When Daniela Durdic Dedic, first counselor of the Embassy of Montenegro in China, joined over 80 diplomats from various countries to visit an exhibition on mamianqun, or horse-face skirts, at the Beijing Film Academy, she was captivated by the beauty of traditional Chinese attire.

The event was part of a cultural salon jointly organized by the academy and the Beijing Service Bureau for Diplomatic Missions, aimed at fostering international exchanges and deepening foreign diplomats' understanding of the Chinese film industry.

More than 100 ambassadors and senior diplomats from over 50 countries attended the event. While one group of guests visited the exhibition, some tried doing voiceovers in the sound studio while the rest watched a short film in a theater.

Dedic, who has worked in China for over three years as the charge d'affaires ad interim because Montenegro had not appointed an ambassador to China then, tells China Daily that she has visited many "magnificent and interesting historical and cultural places".

"But this is my first time visiting the Beijing Film Academy. My husband, a journalist and a fan of Chinese action movie giants like Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, was thrilled when he heard about my visit to the academy and asked if I could bring our daughter," Dedic says.

Growing up in a family with artistic influences, Dedic, whose sister is a famous costume designer behind multiple blockbusters, reveals that she developed a passion for cinema at a young age. She was also once an amateur actress at a theater in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, and won several prizes for acting as leads in plays at university.

It was the 2006 film The Painted Veil, starring British actress Naomi Watts and largely shot in a picturesque historic town in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, that first shaped Dedic's impression of China.

"The movie features beautiful scenery, showcasing how villagers lived in a mountainous area in the 1920s. That's how I learned about China before coming to Beijing," recalls Dedic, adding that films serve as a window to enlighten foreigners about distant countries and their cultures.

During the event, a short documentary about director Xie Fei's poignant 1986 movie A Girl from Hunan was screened. The movie was the first Chinese-language film released across the United States. Dedic says that she has watched it intently, noting its portrayal of the typical rural landscape of Hunan province, with grey-tiled houses lined up along lush hills.

Adapted from literary master Shen Congwen's 1929 novella Xiaoxiao, the film recounts a tragic romance in the old days. The documentary follows director Xie's return to Yuanling county in Huaihua, Hunan, where the film was shot 40 years ago.

In response to a question about the meaning of life from Sashko Nasev, the ambassador of North Macedonia to China, Xie reflects that every individual can explore their own unique meaning. For him, now 82, the essence of life lies in teaching at the academy, making films, and engaging with audiences during his travels abroad.

Zhou Zhijun, chairwoman of the Beijing Film Academy, says that film, as an art of light and shadow, serves as a bridge for emotions and ideas.

"It transcends linguistic and cultural boundaries, connecting hearts and minds across different civilizations," she says, expressing hope that the event would deepen diplomats' understanding of Chinese cinema and culture.

Hu Qiang, president of Beijing Film Academy, says that the event aims to let more countries learn about China's efforts in cultivating young talents in the film and TV industries as well as how the country endeavors to produce international-level works.

Yu Jianhong, vice-president of the academy, tells China Daily that the academy has carefully selected three activities. In addition to the exhibition of mamianqun, the traditional Chinese clothes, diplomats in the other two groups visit a voiceover studio and watch the 23-minute film Stand by Me, a heartwarming tale about a retired veterinarian and a boy who loves football. The film was produced by the academy's students.

Yu adds the academy produces an average of 50 films each year, with some titles winning awards at international festivals. He hopes that these student-created works, which incorporate Chinese aesthetics and values, will influence a broader international audience.

Anne Lafortune, the ambassador of Seychelles to China, says that the event provides a unique opportunity for diplomats to exchange views with Chinese film talents, enhancing mutual understanding and promoting future cooperation.