Eugenio Bregolat grants the award to Luo Jun.[Photo/Culturalink.gov.cn]

The 2014 Madrid Zhihua Jiangtang award ceremony was held in the InterContinental Madrid Hotel on April 14. More than 120 guests from political, business, diplomatic and academic circles participated in the event.

The Madrid China Cultural Center, the Zaragoza government, the Madrid Thyssen Museum and Gregorio Manzano, a Spanish football manager in charge of Beijing Guoan Football Club, were honored with the inaugural 2014 annual award of Zihua Jiangtang for their significant contributions in promoting Chinese culture in foreign countries.

Eugenio Bregolat, former Spanish ambassador to China and honorary president of Zhihua Jiangtang, delivered the keynote speech.

He said that China has gained irresistible economic momentum in recent decades. China’s rise represents a golden opportunity for various Sino-Spanish exchanges. Zhihua Jiangtang is an incredible team offering insights into China’s growth and advancement. It will play a bigger role in future exchanges between the two countries.

The Madrid China Cultural Center hosted a wide variety of excellent events in culture and education in 2014, propelling the bilateral relationship to new heights. Luo Jun, director of the Madrid China Cultural Center, received the award and suggested the organization would remain committed to advancing cultural communication between the two countries.

Founded in 2012, Zhihua Jiangtang is a forum for information analysis and discussion related to Chinese culture. At present, more than 130 experienced scholars and experts work for it.

The platform offers updated information for Spanish people about China, encouraging mutual understanding and exchanges at all levels.