(The 9th China International Import Expo) Flamenco accompanied by the aroma of ham, Barcelona’s appearance at the China International Import Expo continues the story of Shanghai’s sister city

China News Service, Shanghai, November 10 (Fan Yubin) The flamenco dance is sonorous, the aroma of Iberian ham is overflowing, and the football experience area is crowded... At the 9th China International Import Expo, the Barcelona, ​​Spain, city exhibition area made its debut in the "Charming Sister Cities" area, becoming a bright spot in the cultural exchange section. This year coincides with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of a sister-city relationship between Shanghai and Barcelona. The two international port cities, thousands of miles apart, use the CIIE as a link to continue to write stories of sister cities on the banks of the Huangpu River.

Since the 8th CIIE, cultural exchange activities have opened a "Charming Sister Cities" area to focus on the results of cooperation between Chinese and foreign sister cities, which has received positive response from sister cities around the world. At this CIIE, the Barcelona exhibition area covers an area of ​​400 square meters and has five major sections: economic and trade cooperation, urban humanities, special performances, food appreciation, and sports experience, fully displaying the unique temperament of the famous Mediterranean city.

On November 9, exhibitors experienced football in the Barcelona city exhibition area of ​​the 9th China International Import Expo. Photo by Fan Yubin

In the urban humanities exhibition board, the fantastic lines of Gaudí's architecture, the urban style of La Rambla, and the light and shadow dome of the Sagrada Familia are three-dimensionally presented through images, pictures and texts, attracting the audience to stop and take photos; in the stage area, artists from Spain perform flamenco dance in rhythm. The passionate dance attracted bursts of applause; in the food tasting area, freshly cut Iberian ham was paired with sangria, allowing the audience to immerse themselves in Spain on the tip of the tongue; in the football experience area, many sports enthusiasts gathered to experience Barcelona football culture in interactive games.

"Being entrusted by the Barcelona Municipal Government to host this city exhibition area is not only a recognition of the Shuangli Foundation's more than 30 years of work in building a bridge of exchanges between China and Spain, but also a gift for the 25th anniversary of the establishment of sister city relations between Shanghai and Barcelona." Qi Liling, chairman of the Spanish Shuangli Group and chairman of the Spanish Shuangli Foundation, said in an interview with China News Service that from economic and trade exchanges to cultural exchanges, the CIIE has opened a window for European cities and companies to deeply connect with China.

On November 9, exhibitors learned about Spanish ham in the Barcelona city exhibition area of ​​the 9th China International Import Expo. Photo by Fan Yubin

As an overseas Chinese enterprise deeply engaged in Sino-Western trade, the Spanish Shuangli Group was established in Barcelona in 1992. This is the third time that its "Yitiao Ham" has appeared at the CIIE. Qi Liling said that with the help of the spillover effects of previous CIIEs, "Yitiao Ham" has opened 5 directly-operated stores at Shenzhen Airport, and the first store in Wuhan is about to open. "We are planning to open our first store in Shanghai and cooperate with local distributors, hoping to bring more high-quality Spanish products to Chinese consumers."

Qi Liling believes that Chinese businessmen are familiar with the cultures and markets of China and Spain and are natural "civilian ambassadors." “The CIIE is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We must not only introduce good things from Europe, but also drive more Spanish government and enterprise resources into China, tell Chinese stories well, and promote sister-city cooperation from official to private, and from consensus to implementation.” (End)