Chinese action star Jackie Chan was invited to participate in Saudi Arabia's 28th Janadriyah National Festival of Heritage and Culture (from April 3 to 19) as the Chinese Cultural Ambassador on March 18 in Beijing. Zhang Aiping, Vice Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations in the Ministry of Culture and Yahya Abdul-Kareem Al-Zaid, Saudia Arabia’s Ambassador to China conferred the Letter of Appointment to Chan.

Jackie Chan accepts the Letter of Appointment as the Chinese Cultural Ambassador during the 28th Janadriyah National Festival of Heritage and Culture. Photo by Dong Lin

Chan said he was honored to hold the position and hoped that people from all around the world would experience the diversity and character of Chinese culture during the 17-day event.

Each year one country is invited to be the guest of honor to showcase its traditions during the festival. This year it is China’s turn to put its culture on display.

A number of traditional Chinese crafts—such as Chinese embroidery—and performing arts will be on show starting April 3.

By Dong Lin