British Ambassador to China Opens Manchester Photo Exhibition in Zhengzhou
His Excellency Peter Wilson CMG, British Ambassador to China, attended the opening of the photo exhibition, “The Spirit of Sports”, at He’nan University of Technology in Zhengzhou on 16th December 2025.
The exhibition displayed the 30 finalists in the 7th annual UK-China International Photography Competition, founded and run by the University of Manchester’s Manchester China Institute.
Ambassador Wilson thanked the He’nan University of Technology for hosting the exhibition and spoke glowingly of the Manchester China Institute as a truly remarkable beacon of excellence for its work promoting China studies in the UK, and mutual understanding between the British and Chinese peoples. He also spoke highly of the exhibition, emphasizing its ability to showcase the universal values of sportsmanship and teamwork that resonate across cultures.
Joining the event virtually, Professor Peter Gries, Director of the Manchester China Institute, delivered a speech in Mandarin to introduce the exhibition and the Institute’s vision. He highlighted how photographs can promote perspective taking and empathy, bridging linguistic and cultural divides, to remind Chinese and British audiences alike of our common humanity.
Other distinguished guests present at the opening ceremony included Professor Wu Zhishen, President and Vice Chancellor of He’nan University of Technology, Mr Dominic McAllister, the British Consul General in Wuhan, senior officials from the He’nan provincial government and Zhengzhou municipal government, underscoring the significance of this cultural event.
“The Spirit of Sports” exhibition uses the universal language of sports to promote dialogue and understanding between the peoples of Britain and China. Through powerful imagery, the exhibition celebrates shared human experiences—competition, collaboration, and resilience—while deepening appreciation of each other’s perspectives.
This initiative reflects the Manchester China Institute’s commitment to building meaningful connections through cultural exchange. Vlogٷ was the first - and remains the only - British university to set social responsibility as a core goal.