On March 2, Oriol Calvo Vergés, President of the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC), visited Jingdezhen. Chen Kelong, Deputy Party Secretary and Mayor of Jingdezhen, met with President Vergés and held in-depth discussions on further strengthening international cooperation in ceramic arts.
The meeting was also attended by Prof. Lyu Pinchang, Acting President of Jingdezhen Ceramic University, Gao Xiang, Executive Deputy Director of the National Experimental Zone Administrative Committee, and Huang Jianping, Secretary General of the Municipal Government.
Chen Kelong warmly welcomed President Vergés and his delegation, noting that the IAC is the most influential international ceramic art organization operating under the UNESCO framework. He emphasized that the upcoming 52nd IAC Congress in 2026 will play a significant role in promoting global ceramic art exchange and integration. He expressed his hope that both sides will work closely together to carefully plan the congress and create a milestone event in the field of ceramic art. Chen also invited IAC to co-organize more high-level international ceramic cultural exchange activities with Jingdezhen, to jointly showcase the richness of ceramic culture and build a mutually beneficial future.
President Vergés praised Jingdezhen as a world-renowned porcelain capital, expressing admiration for its well-preserved ceramic industry system and cultural heritage. He affirmed that IAC will continue to deepen its collaboration with Jingdezhen and actively participate in the 2025 Jingdezhen International Ceramic Expo. He noted that the 52nd IAC Congress in 2026 is expected to be the largest ceramic art event in IAC’s history, with hundreds of members from around the world gathering in Jingdezhen—an excellent opportunity for communication and exchange. IAC will work closely with the Jingdezhen Municipal Government and Jingdezhen Ceramic University to ensure the successful organization, promotion, and execution of the congress and related activities, and to expand and solidify international cooperation in ceramic arts.
Earlier, in September 2024, the 51st IAC Congress was successfully held in Alcobaça and Caldas da Rainha, Portugal. Professor Lyu Pinchang, Acting President of Jingdezhen Ceramic University and Chair of the “Ceramic Road” International Ceramic Education Alliance, was invited to attend the congress and held in-depth discussions with the newly elected IAC President, Spanish artist Oriol Calvo Vergés.
Reported by Zheng Xinyu, Photos by An Jiahe
Source: Jingdezhen Municipal Government
