Quanzhou Evening News, 16 June – By Yin Siqi (Integrated Media Reporter) and Chen Xiang (Correspondent)

　　China's Permanent Delegation to UNESCO recently sent a formal letter of appreciation to the Quanzhou Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, thanking the city for organising a delegation to Paris to co-host UNESCO's inaugural International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations.

　　The letter commended Quanzhou for showcasing its unique identity as a city with deep historical roots and a rich multicultural legacy. Through the theme of "Starting Point of the Maritime Silk Road, Meeting Point of Civilisations," Quanzhou played a meaningful role in fostering mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation among cultures. The delegation's thoughtfully curated culinary presentation and intangible cultural heritage displays enriched the Dialogue Day programme and deepened international appreciation for China's traditional cultural heritage. The event received high praise from permanent delegates to UNESCO and attending guests from all sectors.

　　In celebration of the newly established International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations—a Chinese initiative officially recognised by the United Nations—Quanzhou was formally invited by the Chinese Permanent Delegation to UNESCO in late April 2025 to co-host a cultural banquet on 5 June at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. This cultural gathering was also a key complementary event to the "Silk Road Youth Dialogue for the Future" seminar held the same day, using cuisine as a medium to promote mutual understanding, cultural exchange, and constructive dialogue among civilisations.

　　Upon receiving the invitation, the Quanzhou Office for the "UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy" campaign joined forces with the city's Bureau of Commerce, Bureau of Culture and Tourism, and Quanzhou Cultural Tourism Group to plan the initiative. A team of 25 chefs, along with master artisans representing Quanzhou's famed puppet theatre and floral hairpin-making (both recognised intangible cultural heritage forms), travelled to Paris. Together, they created a distinctive "mountain-and-sea" culinary experience, forging a sensory bridge between East and West and injecting the essence of "Quanzhou flavour" into the heart of civilisational dialogue.

　　The banquet was a vibrant, multi-sensory experience. Through thematic exhibition booths, buffet-style presentation, and live demonstrations of traditional skills, the event celebrated the diversity and sophistication of Chinese cuisine. Centred around the culinary traditions of Quanzhou, the menu thoughtfully integrated regional Chinese flavours, featuring 7 cold dishes, 11 hot dishes, 5 snacks, 2 staple foods, 1 soup, and 14 dessert and tea offerings. These dishes not only reflected Quanzhou's profound heritage as a historic maritime gateway, but also embodied the aesthetic, cultural, and philosophical richness of Chinese gastronomy.

　　Over 400 guests—including UNESCO Deputy Director-General Xing Qu, Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences Gabriela Ramos Brito, Chinese Ambassador to UNESCO Yang Xinyu, and permanent delegates from Greece, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Oman, Colombia, Venezuela, Russia, among others—attended the event.

　　The banquet was hailed by many as one of the most successful culinary showcases hosted at UNESCO in recent years, both in terms of scale and cultural impact. Guests expressed enthusiastic admiration for the dishes and the presentation. Ambassador Yang Xinyu praised the event, highlighting Quanzhou cuisine's embodiment of both mountain and sea, and its spirit of multicultural fusion. He noted that the banquet served as a powerful cultural vehicle that transcended linguistic and cultural boundaries, fostering friendship, mutual understanding, and demonstrating China's commitment to global cultural exchange and international cooperation.