On October 17, H. E. LIU Fei, Consul General (Ambassadorial rank) of the People's Republic of China attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition The Forbidden City: Inside the Court of China's Emperors at the Vancouver Art Gallery. The Honourable Teresa Wat, Minister of International Trade and Minister Responsible for the Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism from the British Columbia Government, Mayor Gregor Robertson of Vancouver, representatives of the Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation and CNOOC Limited, over 200 guests were present at the opening ceremony.

Consul General LIU Fei addressed the opening ceremony

Consul General LIU Fei emphasized that the Forbidden City Exhibition built up a platform, which provided local residents a valuable opportunity to learn about China's history and appreciate the Chinese art and culture. It would promote the cultural exchanges between China and Canada, and further enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between peoples of the two countries.

Selected from the vast collections of the Palace Museum in Beijing, the exhibition showcases nearly 200 precious works from the Forbidden City that have rarely been seen outside China. 80 pieces are exhibited abroad for the first time. These exquisite examples from Chinese cultural history date from as early as the fifteenth century to the early-twentieth century and include such treasures as paintings, ceramics, gold and silver wares, jade, cloisonné, bronzes and textiles.