Despite the slightly cold and wet weather on November 11th 2012 in Dublin, the atmosphere was warm and genial in the Confucius Institute in UCD. The visiting Chinese delegation comprised ten artists from the China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) and the Academy of Art and Design in Tsinghua University. Discussions about artistic creations, Chinese cultural communication, missions of the Confucius Institute and other topics were developed between the visiting artists and teaching representatives of the Institute.

The artist delegation included Shixun Pan, a professor of CAFA, a member of the China Oil Painting Society, Mingyi Yang, a member of the Chinese Artists Association, vice president of the Association of Artists in Jiangsu Province, vice president of the Association of Artists in Suzhou, a distinguished national level artist, Dakai Du, a professor of the Academy of Art and Design in Tsinghua University, a doctoral supervisor, Director of the Contemporary Art Institute of Academy of Art and Design in Tsinghua University, Jia Bao, Standing Director of the Chinese Artists Association and Director of its Anhui Branch, Ying Pan, a professional artist from the Chinese Academy of Arts and Chinese Institute of Art Creation, Kaixi Cui, a member of the Chinese Artists Association, a member of the China Oil Painting Society and a professor of the Department of Fine Arts in the People's Liberation Army Acedamy of Art.

During the discussions, Dr. Liming Wang, director of the UCD Confucius Institute, briefly introduced the overview, operating systems and main achievements of the Institute since its establishment in 2006. He cordially invited the artists to hold art exhibitions in Ireland and bring the Institute an artistic air. Later, Xiangran Wen, volunteer teacher representative of the Institute who hails from the RUC School of Arts, introduced the Chinese calligraphy and painting classes of the Institute about its introduction designs, teaching effects in classroom and feedback from the students. After hearing the introductions, artists from the delegation fully affirmed the goals and significant contributions of the Institute and expressed the hope that the Institute will show persistent effort in promoting Chinese culture overseas.

The artist delegation came to Ireland at the invitation of Frank Clarke, anchorman of the RTE television program 'Simply Painting'. During their visit to Ireland, the artists went out sketching and developed painting and calligraphy art exchange activities. Through their inspirational artwork, the members of the delegation expressed their feelings, tempered their skills, and interacted with like minds here in Ireland, which contributed greatly to enhancing the understanding and friendship of Ireland and China.