"Artists have special feelings when standing in front of a work of art, and they can understand a lot of things without words," said Martine Delaleuf, the president of the Society of French Artists, which was established in 1881.

The society organizes the annual exhibition of "Salon des Artistes Français," and invites artists from around the world to hold exhibitions in France.

As a painter herself, Delaleuf said the organizer of exhibitions doesn't need to be an artist, but it always helps if she or he is.

Delaleuf regularly visits the China Cultural Center in Paris in the hope of getting to know different artistic forms, finding surprises and meeting new artists.

That's how she fell in love with Chinese ink wash paintings – an ancient way of Chinese art using water and black ink.

"Ink wash was quite strange for us," said Delaleuf, referring to the different painting techniques used in ancient Chinese painting and Western painting. But she noted that she was impressed by the combination of the eastern and western methods in the artworks of modern Chinese artists' ink wash paintings, which was exhibited in last year's "Salon."

"That is why we need such exchanges between artists," said Delaleuf, adding that it is through the exchanges and communication that artists may draw inspiration, and learn from each other.

She said art itself is beyond language and can connect artists. They don't have to talk in order to communicate – art has the strength of influencing people and tell them the truth.

Martine Delaleuf traveled to Yunnan Province in southwest China last year – a trip which could be called "rediscovering China."

She was deeply touched by the beautiful scenery, the diverse culture of the local residents, such as their clothes, their traditions, and their hospitality.

"It was a marvelous way to discover this country!" Delaleuf said, adding that what she reads in the newspapers and learns from TV about China is not the reality, and it is only by traveling there she got to know what China is really like.

She painted several artistic works on her Yunnan impressions. Her paintings depict girls wearing their traditional clothes in markets and shops, going about their everyday business.

While asked about her expectations on exchanges between artists of China and France, the Delaleuf said she hopes there would be more such exchanges, for it would benefit not only the artists but the friendship between the two countries in general.

Reporter: Ai Yan

Videographer: Ai Yan

Video editor: Ge Kai

Graphic designer: Gao Hongmei