Cultural Dialogue & Exchanges Between Europe and China

Visitors to the European Culture Street 2026 event in Hangzhou, China got a delicious taste of Europe as the Asia Partnerships Facility brought the continent's culinary heritage to life.

The 2026 European Culture Street took place on 17–18 April —bringing together 27 EU countries through live music and performances, authentic European food and European Geographical Indication (GI) products, cultural exhibits and interactive experiences, and a popular EU mock passport stamp activity.

The edition was organised by the EUPOP team from GOPA PACE, led by team leader Huijun Zhang and key expert Chiara Rossolini.

Sixty GI products from the 27 EU Member States were showcased in a GI booth organized under the Asia Partnerships Facility project, implemented by the Economic Competitiveness and Partnerships team of GOPA Worldwide Consultants. Alongside the tastings, the booth integrated into the wider festival experience: two volunteers stamped attendees' EU mock passports, drawing visitors in and generating considerable foot traffic. With an expected attendance of around 30,000, the combination of interactive activities and informational materials gave the booth significant visibility throughout the event.

In addition to a VIP Tasting, the booth hosted several tastings open to all visitors. The menu was thoughtfully curated by the chef and his multicultural team, striking a notable balance between creative presentation and flavours tailored to appeal to Chinese guests.

As a highlight, 150 customised cotton bags — each containing 10 GI products from 6 Member States endorsed under the GI agreement — were given away to winners of a Lucky Draw contest.

GOPA is pleased to support this initiative — fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration between Europe and China.