The 2025 Chengdu-Europe Culture Season kicked off on Saturday in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, as part of a series of events celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union.

This year, the EU delegation to China is invited as the guest of honor to co-host the opening ceremony of the culture season and the European Culture Street.

Jorge Toledo, EU ambassador to China, said in a speech at the opening ceremony that the EU and its member states are committed to support people-to-people exchanges and to promote mutual understanding between the people of the EU and China.

He highlighted that cultural diversity is at the very heart of the EU's foundations, adding that the European Culture Street is a fantastic example of the Team Europe spirit, where the EU delegation and member states' embassies, consulates and cultural institutes come together to offer Chinese people a chance to experience their cultural diversity.

The 2025 European Culture Street, themed "All Imaginable Ways of Dialogue", integrates art, music, cuisine, and interactive experiences to create an immersive cultural carnival for Chengdu residents, the organizers said. Chengdu is the fourth Chinese city to host the event after Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

The organizers said this year's Chengdu-Europe Culture Season, which will run through July, will feature various cultural activities such as art exhibitions, concerts, theater performances, film weeks, thematic exchanges.

They will be held in cooperation with embassies and consulates of European countries including Ireland, Austria, Germany, France, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the United Kingdom.

pengchao@chinadaily.com.cn