An eight-minute video tape showing Chinese costumes of different dynasties and different ethnic groups, and Chinese modern culture was displayed at Lincoln Center, New York Wednesday on the eve of a 25-day Chinese cultural promotion festival.
The Chinese Culture Promotion Festival, at the joint sponsorship of the Information Office of Chinese State Council and the Chinese Ministry of Culture, is to start from Thursday in the New York City.
"It is expected to help the American people get to know more about China and its people," said Zhao Qizheng, director of the Information Office.
Speaking to the Chinese and American media at a press conference held in Lincoln Center, Zhao said cultural exchanges are an important way of better knowing each other for both Americans and Chinese.
From August 24 to September 17, exhibitions, artistic performances and speeches will be held and given in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles and other American cities to introduce China's traditional culture, modern art, and the history of and current situation in China.
"America has a short history but is the most advanced country in the world, while China, as the largest developing country, is not known well to the outside world although it boasts of long- lived history and splendid culture."
"So I hope that Americans can better know China through this culture tour," said Zhao.
It is the second such kind of cultural show after China Culture Week was successfully held in Paris, France last year. But this year's event is even bigger, said Zhao.
Chinese President Jiang Zemin, US President Bill Clinton and Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan have all sent letters of congratulations on the occasion of the festival.
"The Chinese and Americans are two great nations. Both have made outstanding contribution to the advancement of world civilization." Jiang wrote, "It is my hope that this program will play a positive role in promoting cultural exchanges between China and the United States, and between East and West."
US President Clinton said "the United States and China, each with a rich cultural heritage, have much to gain from such exchanges," and he believed that "the arts are a universal language of expression for virtually every society."
The first event of the Chinese culture tour will be a concert of Chinese folk music given by China's Central Nationalities Orchestra at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York on August 24 evening.
"Anywhere in the world, music can be a form of perfect communication," said Annan in a letter of greetings to the concert.
(Xinhua 08/23/2000)
