The "Charming Beijing" photo exhibition opened Tuesday at the European Commission's headquarters in Berlaymont Building, featuring 80 photos of Beijing as both an ancient capital and international metropolis.

Eneko Landaburu, chief of the Directorate General for External Relations, said at the opening ceremony that art is a bridge by which different peoples can enrich each other.

He praised the interaction and cooperation between the European Union (EU) and China in the past 30 years, asking China to address the common challenges the world faces together with the EU.

Landaburu said: "I strongly believe that we can draw on our ancient cultures and modern technologies to secure a safer and more prosperous world."

Song Zhe, ambassador of the Chinese Mission to the EU, said: "With its ancestry and tradition, Beijing embodies China's long history and brilliant culture. And Beijing also symbolizes China's reform, opening up and rapid development through its modernity and new landscape. "

Song said that "the Chinese people are prepared to work with the European people to deepen understanding in our respective process of development and drawn upon each other's experience".

The one-week exhibition is sponsored by the Directorate-General for External Relations of the European Commission, the Chinese Mission to the European Union and Information Office of Beijing Municipal Government.

Along with the photo exhibition, there is also a traditional handicrafts exhibition, which shows the making of inside-painted snuff bottles and facial masks, among others.

(Xinhua News Agency September 2, 2009)