In the National Art Museum of China, Beijing, a contemporary ceramic exhibition titled The Blending and Interaction of Civilization: an Exhibition of the East-West Dialogue in Ceramic Art included a strong reputable international cast. Four well-known ceramists were invited: Jacques Kaufmann, professor at Applied Art School in Vevey, Switzerland and immediate past-president of the International Academy of Ceramics (AIC) (current president at the time of the exhibition); Wayne Higby, Professor at Alfred University, former vice-President of the International Academy of Ceramics (AIC); Zhu Legeng, Professor and Dean at the Research Institute of Art Creation, Chinese National Academy of Arts, and Rokubey Kiyomizu VIII, professor at Kyoto University of Art & Design.