The Chinese delegation is in Iznik for an official visit.

A delegation from Jingdezhen, a sister city of Iznik known for its ceramic production in China, met with Mayor Kağan Mehmet Usta.

After signing a sister city protocol in recent years with Jingdezhen, a famous ceramic city in China with a population of 2 million, mutual collaborations continue. In this context, Cui Suxiang, the Deputy Mayor of Jingdezhen, along with department heads Liu Xingbing, Tu Zhongyong, and their translator Jiang Qiqi, visited Iznik and met with Mayor Kağan Mehmet Usta.

During the meeting held in the Iznik Municipal Council Hall, which was also attended by council members and department heads, Mayor Kağan Mehmet Usta delivered the opening speech. In his speech, Usta said, “Welcome to our esteemed guests from our sister municipality. We are happy to host you on such a beautiful day. Iznik continues to welcome its guests with its thousands of years of historical heritage, making it a virtual open-air museum. It is one of the rare places that has received the Cittaslow Slow City title and has served as the capital for many civilizations.

The production of ceramics in Iznik began in the mid-14th century and reached its golden age in the 16th and 17th centuries. Evliya Çelebi, who visited Iznik in the 17th century, mentioned in his book “Seyahatname” that there were more than 300 ceramic workshops in the district.

In Ottoman architecture, Iznik tiles have been used as an important decorative element and have shown great development. Ceramics found a wide range of uses in various works such as mosques, masjids, madrasas, imarets, baths, palaces, and kiosks. The place of ceramics in Turkish architecture and decorative arts is significant.

The ‘Mastery of Ceramics,’ which is also included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List, is still one of our country’s most important promotional tools today.

When it comes to ceramics in China, our friendly city Jingdezhen comes to mind, while Iznik is synonymous with ceramics in Turkey. As you pointed out, Iznik, which was one of the important trade points in history, has frequently communicated with China via the Silk Road. The patterns of Iznik tiles, which we describe as flowers blossoming in fire, symbolize our friendship with the designs of Jingdezhen ceramics.

As Iznik Municipality, we are working with you, our esteemed friends, to promote this art both nationally and globally. We thank you in advance for your invitation to the Jingdezhen International Ceramics Fair, which will take place this October. We hope to participate in this important organization as Iznik Municipality. On this occasion, I wish that your valuable visit will be beneficial for the promotion and cooperation of both our cities, and I say once again, welcome.”

Deputy Mayor Cui Suxiang of Jingdezhen also gave a speech greeting the attendees and promoting the city. As both mayors presented each other with gifts symbolizing their cities, they went on to visit Iznik’s historical and cultural sites after the meeting.