The 16th WCC General Assembly was held in China’s southern city of Hangzhou from the 4th to 11th November, 2008. The assembly was surrounded by a variety of other activities including an International Arts and Crafts Exhibition, an international forum on crafts, a designer’s seminar, the 2008 "Asia Pacific Region Craft Master" Awarding and Crafts Seminars, and the 2008 UNESCO AWARD of Excellence for Handicrafts in East Asia Awarding Ceremony and Workshop.

The theme of 2008 WCC General Assembly was to promote the arts and crafts in the world, improve and inherit the skills of manual technique, develop the cultural industry and assist the prosperity of the crafts’ art.

The opening ceremony of the General Assembly

The opening ceremony of the General Assembly was held in the Great Hall of Zhejiang province on the 6th. Nov. Maria Celina, the chairman of the WCC attended the ceremony and gave a speech. in which she expressed her appreciation for the contribution that China has made for the arts and crafts. She also expressed the hope that the 2008 WCC General Assembly could further promote the development of the arts and crafts.

Maria Celina