An exhibition of seal cutting works by former Chinese Vice Premier Li Lanqing opened at the Chinese Culture Center in Paris on Friday.

Some 200 guests attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition, which displays 270 pieces of seal cutting works made by Li. The exhibition, co-organized by the Chinese Culture Ministry and the Chinese Embassy in France, will last until Nov. 14.

Chinese seal cutting, or Zhuanke, is an art form that combines calligraphy and carving and represented a signature in ancient China.

The art, dating back more than 3,000 years to the Yin Dynasty, is listed along with calligraphy, painting and poetry as four essential skills required of an ancient scholar.

After Li's retirement, he was enthusiastic about seal cutting and spent much time and effort learning it. He has accomplished more than 400 kinds of seal cuttings during the past five years.

"The exchange of art and culture is the exchange of mind," Li told the audience through a video from China and expressed the hope that China and France could deepen understanding, friendship and cooperation through cultural exchanges.

"This exhibition is wonderful," Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman of the France-China Committee, told Xinhua. He said the display could help French people better understand Chinese history, scenery, architecture and art.

Tricoire said he believed this kind of exchange could give impetus to bilateral culture and economic exchanges.

Chinese Ambassador to France Kong Quan said it was admirable that Li, in his seventies, had developed into a professional seal cutting master in just a few years, adding that the exhibition would enrich the content of China-France cultural exchange.