Host: Besides Iran, you have also worked in Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands. Would you please share some cultural elements in these countries and cultural exchange activities that impressed you?

Ambassador Hua: Nowadays, speaking of Afghanistan, we think of war. However, it has had colorful cultures in history. Afghanistan used to be a Buddhist society before converting to Islam. It is such a pity that the statues of Bamyan Buddhas were destroyed by the Taliban. Before the Taliban’s destruction, the museum in Kabul also held some magnificent cultural relics that survived from Buddhist society.

As to cultures in the Netherlands, I am most impressed by the Dutch Golden Age paintings. I have been to the two most well-known museums—the Dutch National Museum in Amsterdam and the Van Gogh Museum—more than four or five times. The two hold the most famous Golden Age works in the world, especially works by two of the most distinguished Dutch painters—Rembrandt and Van Gogh.

Some cultural exchanges there also impressed me. For instance, a Shaanxi opera troupe went to the Netherlands and beyond my expectation, the Dutch people were infatuated with the troupe’s performance. Actually I myself find it hard to understand the Shaanxi opera. But the Chinese acrobatic troupes were certainly welcomed there.