West Bund Museum and Pompidou Center inaugurate second five-year exhibition collaboration

Notably, during the inauguration ceremony, the upcoming exhibition China: A New Generation of Artists was previewed. The exhibition, set to debut next month at the Pompidou Center, has been jointly curated by both institutions and has taken more than two years to prepare.

"On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries, this exhibition showcases the vitality and excellence of the Chinese art scene. I would like to point out that Shanghai is widely represented there," Le Bon said.

During this second five-year phase, the two institutions will continue to advance the exchange and integration of Chinese and French culture and art. With an expanded cultural vision, they will deepen their collaboration across all levels and jointly explore new possibilities in the fields of culture and art.

Le Bon noted that for more than a century, Paris has been the city of choice for many of the most outstanding Chinese artists, all of whom have close ties to Shanghai. Names include Xu Beihong, Pan Yuliang, Lin Fengmian, and, more recently, Chen Zhen and Yan Pei-Ming.

Furthermore, some of the earliest works of the first generation of Chinese artists active in Paris since the 1920s are part of the Pompidou Center's collection.

"And it is a great joy to renew the partnership that binds us for five more years of fruitful and exciting exchanges, from which, I am convinced, new high-quality projects will emerge," Le Bon added.

Attendees at Monday's inauguration ceremony included Ma Chunlei, secretary-general of the Shanghai municipal government, Chen Li, minister counsellor at China's Embassy in France, Myriam Saint-Pierre, deputy director of the Asia and Oceania department of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Yannick Faure, head of the legal and international affairs department at French Ministry of Culture.

Julie Narbey, executive director of the Pompidou Center; Xavier Rey, director of the French National Museum of Modern Art; and other cultural or artistic figures involved in Sino-French cooperation were also in attendance.