A New Chapter in China–Spain Cultural Exchange | Vice Mayor of Elche, Spain, Samuel Ruiz, Visits PITO for Exchange and Insights

On April 15, Samuel Ruiz Tena, Vice Mayor of Elche, Spain, and Councillor for Economic Development, headed a delegation to visit the PITO International Exhibition & Trade Center. The group toured the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Chaozhou Porcelain Culture Museum and the brand’s product showroom, using porcelain as a bridge to deepen cultural appreciation and economic exchange between China and Spain.

As a brand deeply rooted in the ceramic industry for many years, Ms. Lu Jin, Manager of PITO’s Overseas Business Department, introduced the company to the delegation. Originating from Chaozhou, known as the “Porcelain Capital of China,” PITO is a high-end ceramic manufacturing enterprise and a recognized inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of blue-and-white porcelain craftsmanship. The company is dedicated to providing one-stop tableware aesthetic solutions for global high-end hospitality and dining brands.

PITO specializes in high-strength bone china, with a bone ash content of up to 52%. Its Longde porcelain features enhanced durability, effectively reducing wear and extending product lifespan. Fired at high temperatures, PITO products combine lightweight translucency with exceptional impact resistance, making them suitable for high-frequency hotel operations, with greater durability and refined presentation.

Leveraging the heritage of Chaozhou’s ICH blue-and-white porcelain, PITO offers a library of over 10,000 shapes. From shapes, patterns to logos, the company supports deep, flexible customization, quickly adapting to the personalized needs of high-end scenarios such as Michelin-starred restaurants and state banquets, ensuring every table setting is truly unique. PITO products have been used in prestigious international projects, including the Presidential Palace of Tajikistan, the Parliament of Thailand, receptions for the French President, and Dubai’s EMAAR Hospitality Group.

Currently, PITO’s marketing network spans Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, making it a preferred partner for many five-star hotels. With a 40,000 m² production base in Chaozhou’s core ceramic region and a municipal-level R&D center, PITO ensures stable and reliable delivery. Its product range covers ceramics, glassware, linens, and other comprehensive hotel supplies, supporting one-stop solutions from design to implementation.

Warmly received by the PITO team, Mr. Samuel Ruiz first toured the ICH Chaozhou Porcelain Culture Museum, immersing himself in the 600-year heritage and craftsmanship of Chaozhou blue-and-white porcelain. From traditional hand-painted techniques to the innovative revitalization of intangible cultural heritage, from imperial-style aesthetics to modern lifestyle ceramics, each piece embodies the essence of Eastern artistry and demonstrates the living vitality of heritage craftsmanship in contemporary design. During the visit, Mr. Ruiz showed particular appreciation for Chaozhou blue-and-white porcelain vases, pausing to admire them and offering high praise for their elegant blue-and-white palette and exquisite hand-painted artistry.

He then toured the PITO product showroom to gain a comprehensive understanding of the brand’s design and R&D achievements in areas such as state banquet porcelain (1320°C high-temperature firing), cultural and creative ceramics, and ICH-derived products. Both sides held in-depth discussions on ceramic product design, heritage craftsmanship preservation, the fusion of Eastern and Western aesthetics, and international market collaboration. They also explored how ceramic culture can serve as a link to promote bilateral cooperation between Elche and China in cultural and economic fields, helping bring ICH ceramic culture to a broader global stage.

This visit represents an important step in PITO’s commitment to heritage preservation and cultural globalization. It builds a friendly bridge for China–Spain cultural dialogue while allowing the unique charm of Chaozhou’s ICH blue-and-white porcelain to be seen and recognized by international audiences. Looking ahead, PITO will continue to use porcelain as a medium to inherit craftsmanship, innovate cultural expression, and promote the integration and coexistence of Chinese ceramic culture with diverse global cultures, writing new chapters of cultural exchange and win-win cooperation.