Polish Sinologist bridging the cultural divide

"It should be simpler and aimed at arousing the curiosity of the general public in Europe - that's where culture and the arts play such an important part."

Of course, Gaca's role is also to promote Polish culture in China on behalf of his government.

Over the coming months, two events will take place which Gaca says are among the most high-profile promotions of his country's history ever held in China.

There's a national Polish exhibition being planned in the National Museum of China in Beijing, which will showcase some of Poland's most historic pieces of art. It's only the fourth time such a major event has been held outside of the country.

Then some of its best-known modern artists are expected to hold a major showing at the National Art Museum, also in the Chinese capital.

Gaca adds that the best-known Polish figures in China are still arguably the composer Frederic Chopin, and Marie Sklodowska-Curie, the physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity.

"But there is real curiosity between the two countries towards each other, and I am determined to continue my mission of cementing even stronger ties between these two very rich cultural nations."

liulu@chinadaily.com.cn