In recent years, China has conducted cultural exchanges with
other countries on a large scale. So far, China has reached
government cultural agreements with 143 countries and signed 700
plans for annual cultural exchanges. Every year the Ministry of
Culture authorizes 2,000 cultural exchange programs with 60 to 70
countries involving some 30,000 participants.
"Culture weeks," "culture tours," "culture festivals," "culture
years" and other events hosted jointly by China and overseas
counterparts have deepened contact and understanding between
peoples and offered new channels for equal dialogue between
different civilizations.
"China-France Culture Year" spanned two years and lowered its
curtain in China at the end of 2005. This great event in the
history of Sino-European cultural exchange was the largest such
activity undertaken in the lifetime of the People's Republic. The
event raised Sino-French and Sino-EU relations to a new height.
Encouraged by the example, Italy, Spain, Germany, and Greece have
also suggested co-hosting a "Culture Year."
On October 1, 2005, the "Festival of China," jointly organized
by China's Ministry of Culture and the US John F. Kennedy
Performing Arts Center, was launched in Washington DC. The center
had never before hosted an event covering such a wide field in such
great depth, according to the New York Times and the Washington
Post. In October, "China Tianjin Week" took place in the Italian
cities of Rome, Milan and Naples, showcasing China's culture,
economy, tourism and sports, and in the Netherlands the "China
Festival of Culture and Art" was held in Amsterdam and the Hague,
attracting over 70,000 visitors with 100-odd activities.
Meanwhile, the annual Shanghai International Art Festival, the
Beijing International Music Festival and the Beijing International
Drama have international appeal to the arts world. In recent years,
world-ranking arts groups from Ireland, Norway, Germany, Israel,
Russia, Canada and Britain have put China on their itinerary.
Cultural exchanges with other countries have given Chinese artistes
access to the world stage. Apart from the gold medal performances
of Chinese acrobats in international competition, artistes from
other fields D ballet dancers, vocal and instrumental music
performers for instance D have also been carrying home many
international first prizes.
China will host the culture-themed "Russia Year" in 2006. During
the second Sino-Arabian Cooperation Forum ministerial meeting, a
major festival of Arabian art will be held in China. The Second Art
Festival of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member countries
and the "Italy Culture Year" will be held in China, and in Europe
the "Festival of China" will take place in Hamburg and Rome.
