This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic relations. Tremendous cultural events are being carried out to celebrate the exchanges between the two peoples. A commemorative envelope has just been released, reflecting cultural collaboration by artists from both countries.

The China-France commemorative envelope was released Monday in Beijing, with the theme "Peace Doves on the Great Wall". It's part of a program that invites acclaimed foreign artists to design envelopes with Chinese artists to mark the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

LI QIONG BEIJING "This is the commemorative envelope that has just been released. We can see two different artistic styles. The peace dove and panda on the stamp are contributed by Chinese artist Han Meilin, with his ink painting brushes. And French artist JonOne created this heart-shaped graffiti painting and this abstract Great Wall in black. Two different cultures collaborating here on the envelope symbolizes friendship between China and France."

The pattern on the envelope was created three days before the event when the two artists met in Beijing. Han Meilin, the first Chinese artist honored as one of UNESCO's Artists for Peace, and JonOne, known for his abstract expressionism in graffiti, created the image with seemingly contradictory artistic styles.

What makes the French artist's China trip more noteworthy is that he got the opportunity to paint in the Palace Museum, the imperial palace of China's Ming and Qing dynasties.

The three hours of painting was like a dream-come-true for JonOne.

"It was a big inspiration from very young to go to the Forbidden City. It's incredible!" 

Repeatedly represented on the art piece, JonOne says he wants to bridge the gap between his own calligraphy and the Chinese calligraphy that has inspired him.

For artists like JonOne, inspiration has no boundaries, just like the envelopes that can travel thousands of miles around the world. LI QIONG, CGTN, BJ.