Mr. Li Kunwu was conferred with "Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters" (Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres) during an official ceremony held at the French embassy in Beijing on March 9. Lv Chenghong, head of the operating company of Kunming National Advertising Industrial Park, attended the ceremony.

At the ceremony, Mr. Luo Liang, French Ambassador to China, presented the medal to Mr. Li Kunwu. Luo said: "Mr. Li Kunwu is a famous cartoonist who owns unique artistic style in China. He has made great contributions to the long-term cultural exchanges between China and France." The award is not only official recognition of Mr. Li Kunwu's artistic achievements, but also the perfect witness to the friendship between China and France.

Established by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication in 1957, "French Order of Arts and Letters" (Ordre des Arts et des Lettres) is aimed at the recognition of artists and writers who have made significant contributions in the fields of art and literature. It is one of the four ministerial medals of honor in France and the highest honor awarded by the French government in literature and art. Those who have won this medal include Mo Yan, Zhang Yimou, Ang Lee, Jia Zhangke, Lang Lang, Jackie Chan and many other celebrities in the fields of culture and art.

"As a Chinese artist, I feel so honored and proud to win the medal. My beautiful hometown Yunnan provides me with wonderful inspirations. I am so thankful to Kunming National Advertising Industrial Park." Li added.

Mr. Li served as a director of the Art Photography Department of Chuncheng Evening News from 1980 to 2011, a director of Yunnan Artists Association and an executive director of China Journalistic Caricature Society. Mr. Li Kunwu's works have been published in 16 languages in China and abroad. He has also received numerous national and international prizes.

More importantly, each of Mr. Li's works highlights Yunnan's cultural features, natural scenery and ethnic customs. They are calling cards of Yunnan which show the world a vivid Yunnan.

The studio of Mr. Li Kunwu is located in Kunming National Advertising Industrial Park. The relevant person in charge of the park pointed out that the park will continue to give full play to the advantages of talents, resources and platforms, continue to do a good job in international cultural exchanges,and make positive contributions to the "going global" of Yunnan culture.

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(Editors:Rachel, Lexi)