China and Zambia look to the future as ties celebrated

"The paintings are a representation of my beautiful country, which is blessed with cultural and innovative elements, while the sculptures represent China becoming my second home," Sela says.

"When I discovered these disposable materials in my Shanghai neighborhood, they reminded me of my childhood and inspired me to make art," he says.

"The most obvious is dry grass. I discovered this material in China, but it is used to make mats in Zambia, which my family used when we sat outside in the evening under the light of the moon while my mother told us stories, a memory that's with me until today," he adds.

He hopes his work will pique the interest of more Chinese travelers to explore the beauty of Zambia and its people.

Sela says he's lucky to have the support from Chinese agencies to open a studio in Shanghai where he and his peers can showcase their culture through their work.

He hopes the bilateral cultural and tourism year will bring more Zambians to the country, so they can also discover its vast opportunities.