The
Festival of China, an unprecedented culture event cosponsored
by China and the United States, was kicked off with dazzling art
shows, joyous celebrations and firework displays in the Kennedy
Center for Performing Arts? Saturday night.?
Chinese Culture Minister Sun
Jiazheng said in his opening address that this festival, which
runs through October in the Kennedy Center and features dozens of
shows, exhibitions and performances, will serve as a medium to show
the Chinese people's openness to the world.?
He noted that cultural exchange is the best way to communicate
between different nations and the efforts made by both China and
the United States to facilitate this event show that public
sentiments in both countries are in favor of good bilateral
relations.
Sun said both Chinese President Hu Jintao
and his US counterpart, George W. Bush, have sent congratulatory
messages to this event.
Stephen Shwarzman, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the
Kennedy Center, said the festival not only represents a new
opportunity for artists from both countries to communicate with
each other, but also marks a very important event in the history of
the artistic exchange between China and the United States.
The speeches were followed by a grand show of Chinese performing
arts, which features Beijing Opera, Chinese drumbeat, Chinese
musical instruments and Chinese acrobatic shows.
The excellent performance of Chinese artists prompted waves of
applause echoing in the 1,100-seat Eisenhower Theater in the
Kennedy Center.
Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell told reporters after
watching the show that he was pleased with every performance.
"All the performances are wonderful, and how can I pick out the
most wonderful one?" he said.
Ann Salonman, who works for the US Academy of Science and has
visited China many times since 1970s, said the show was so amazing
and represented the great progress which China has made in all
aspects during the recent years.
The Festival of China, the largest-ever joint culture event
co-organized by the United States and China, will feature dozens of
cultural events, including performances, exhibitions, outreaching
programs and educational activities, spanning from classical to
contemporary pieces, including dance, theater, instrument music,
visual arts, literature and film.
The month-long event will highlight the cultural diversity and
vitality of the contemporary China as well as China's ancient
history and customs.
Some 400,000 Americans are expected to participate in the
festival in person and another one million will enjoy Chinese
cultural and art shows via TV and Internet broadcasting.
?
(Xinhua News Agency October 2, 2005)
