Silk Road International Exhibition in China

Baltic Architecture Center participates in the prestigious international exhibition Silk Road in Xi'an (China) in partnership with the Agency Architect

Today, May 11, the Fourth Silk Road International Exhibition and Investment and Trade Forum for Cooperation between East and West China, with the participation of the Baltic Architecture Center (Latvia), was opened in Xian, the capital city of China Shaanxi province.

The expo aims to promote international cooperation between countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and to demonstrate China's rapid development since the implementation of its reform and opening-up policy. The expo is sponsored by the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Commerce, All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, State Administration of Market Regulation, and Shaanxi provincial government. The Silk Road expo is an important opportunity for interactions between countries and regions along the Belt and Road and has become increasingly popular. It provides a high-level platform for government dialogues, corporate cooperation, non-governmental exchanges, and friendly city interaction. Each year, more than 2,000 foreign guests from 80 countries have been attracted to the expo. To date, around 600,000 domestic merchants and enterprises have brought 25,000 featured products to demonstrate and sell at the expo. The event has also garnered widespread media attention, as more than 300 media outlets have helped the expo attract global attention.

Among the offers of the Baltic Architecture Center booth are the floating houses, the Stirnurags (Jūrmala) eco territory development project, the program “Creative Women on the Silk Road”, the cultural heritage of the region of Kurzeme, the accessibility of the environment and universal design, as well as the products of the brand Zigi Bags designed by Sigita Trukšāne.

“Zigi Bags is a social business, eco-friendly bags of newspaper and magazine collage with memories and attitudes towards the world that bring out the personality. The main idea is that 56 million daily newspapers are published worldwide and only 30% are recycled. We offer to treat newspapers in the way that they become durable and water resistant. Thanks to the Baltic Architecture Center, we have a great opportunity to participate with the Zigi Bags brand in this prestigious exhibition, as well as to tell the world audience about our priorities such as recycling, sustainability, personalization, uniqueness, responsibility and support for art. During the event, I intend to gain significant contacts to realize the brand's strategic goals and successful future business development in China and the Asian region, ”says Sigita Trukšāne, who after several business visits and local market research moved to China in March this year.

The first success of BAC in China became the participation in the International Innovation Competition of the Silk Road Program in Shaanxi Province, which took place in several rounds in 2018. The BAC's Floating Inclusive Sports Center project, designed by Zane Tetere-Shulce, has received the Excellence Award at the International Innovation Environment Design Competition for Women in the Green Life Group. Success in the not-so-easy Chinese competition was possible thanks to cooperation with the Head of the International Association HERA Christine Bernabeu, who has been cooperating with Chinese businessmen and government representatives for twenty years, currently serving as European Ambassador to Europe under the authority of the Chinese Ministry of Women's and Children's Rights. It started three years ago when a delegation of businessmen from Kuldiga (Latvia) visited France. Then it was agreed that the restoration students from Orléans (France) would take part in the restoration of the former Palace Court House in Kuldiga, which currently hosts the residence of Kurzeme Cultural Heritage Center "Kūrava". In April 2018, French restorers strengthened the building's constructions and roof within two weeks. Restoration works will continue this year. Christine Bernabeu has visited Latvia several times and participated in BAC events for architecture and design.

“We are very pleased that we are at the Silk Road expo where high technology and heritage, a cool business calculation and affectionate emotions meet, and we can show China and the broad international audience our performance in design, environmental accessibility, heritage preservation, and innovation. On land and on water. We would like to invite architects, designers, inventors of new technologies and manufacturers, investors and developers who want to showcase their offerings in the Baltics and other EU countries, as well as in Russia, Kazakhstan, and other New Silk Road countries. Today, China is the place where you can feel the twenty-first century in innovation and technology. At the same time, all innovations and technologies do not make sense if our hearts are not warm and loving. The true smartness of technology is achieved when any work does not turn into a routine but glows in a thousand colors, and business serves not only for profit but also for love and progress. Perhaps it is a woman's today's mission in a harsh business environment. We love our children and families and want them to live in the happiest world and know how to do it! ”says Aivija Barda, Head of the Baltic Architecture Center.

The Fourth Silk Road International Exhibition with Investment and Trading Forum will be held until May 15th.

Baltic Architecture Center
aivija.barda@gmail.com
+37126482718