A year of cultural and social exchange activities between Japan
and China got off to a bright start with the official opening of
"Japan-China Year 2007" on Wednesday in Tokyo.
Japan-China Year, with the theme "HE," Chinese for peace and
harmony, is aimed at promoting exchanges between peoples, Japanese
and Chinese, and people from difference countries, Huang Yaoting,
chairman of Japan-China Year organization committee and chief of
Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Japan said at the opening
ceremony.
The event will kick off with a commemorative concert today,
followed by sakura appreciation tours, exhibitions, performances
and art shows in the first half of 2007, Huang said.
Also on the agenda is the Ninth World Chinese Entrepreneur
Convention to be held in September 2007, and a beauty contest for
domestic and overseas Chinese contestants.
In October, a team of scholars, students and journalists from
China and Japan will retrace the steps of diplomatic officials who
traveled from ancient China through Xi'an in northwestern China' Shaanxi Province to Nara in Japan's Kinki
Region.
A series of activities will be held in Beijing to conclude the
Year, organizers said.
Japan-China Year is organized by the privately run World Chinese
Entrepreneur Convention and China Year organization committee, and
supported by several Japanese ministries including the Foreign,
Economy, Trade and Industry, and Land, Infrastructure and Transport
ministries.
(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2006)
