APEC gifts signing session kicks off in Beijing

Three replicas of gifts presented by China to APEC leaders during this year's APEC Leaders' Week are displayed by models at a signing session held in Beijing on Dec 2, 2014. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A signing session aimed at promoting the replicas of gifts given by China to APEC leaders during this year's meeting was held in Beijing on Tuesday.

Jointly organized by China Construction Bank and Shenzhen-based investment enterprise Batar Group, the ceremony marked the public debut of the collector's edition of three souvenirs, a cloisonné vase that President Xi Jinping presented to other leaders who attended the APEC Leaders' Week, an exquisite handbag, and a fruit plate and silver silk scarf that first lady Peng Liyuan gave to the leaders' wives.

Six designers, including Zhong Liansheng, Shen Wenguang and Caoyu from Beijing Gongmei Group, a State-owned company specializing in the design and production of Chinese arts, handicrafts, carpets, jade and jewelry, also joined the session and shared their designing process of the souvenirs with attendees.

"I believe that with the promotional power of the market, the production skills and its spiritual implication of Chinese traditional arts and crafts will be carried forward for further development," said Zhong.

According to Zhong, the cloisonné vase that was presented to the twenty APEC leaders were selected from 48 design drafts and the other two art pieces that were given to leaders'wives were also chosen from 35 proposals.

"Cloisonné, enamel handicraft painting and Beijing's traditional filigree inlaid metal art are utilized in the three works, and all the designing plans were revised and adjusted more than 20 times," Zhong added.

Cloisonné enamelware is a traditional craft of decorating and coloring metal. Enamel technology entered the Forbidden City during the Yuan dynasty with Chinese designs that pleased the royal families and earned its beautiful name "Blue Jing-Tai".

More than 600 years later, enamel technology was on China's first list of Intangible Cultural Heritage and carried on by hardworking art technicians and designers from the time-honored Beijing Enamel Factory. Among these perfectionists, Zhong is a notable figure.

According to previous media reports, the cloisonné vase and the handbag each cost 39,800 yuan ($6,500) and the fruit plate is 99,800 yuan ($16,300).

APEC meeting has a tradition of presenting souvenirs to its participant leaders by its rotating hosts.

Three years ago, during the 2011 APEC Leaders'Meeting held in Hawaii, US First Lady Michelle Obama presented each leader with a diplomatic gift box, "representing the natural beauty and rich culture of Hawaii," according to the White House.

The gifts were created by Hawaiian artists, who used natural materials from the islands. Female spouses received brooches made from real orchid blooms, with the flowers being personally selected by the first lady, while male guests received cufflinks made of sterling silver and Koa wood, with an engraving that reads "Made Exclusively for Michelle Obama."

Shen Wenguang, an art designer of Beijing Gongmei Group, talks about the production process of cloisonné vase that President Xi Jinping presented to other leaders who attended the APEC Leaders' Week, at a signing session held in Beijing on Dec 2, 2014. [Liu Zheng/chinadaily.com.cn]