Chinese President Hu
Jintao and his French counterpart Jacques Chirac on Oct. 6 sent
congratulatory messages to mark Monday's inauguration in Paris of
the China-France Culture Year.
Hu said that the Chinese
and French peoples have created their own splendid cultures during
their long histories, making tremendous contributions to human
civilization and progress.
He said that exchanges
between different cultures and learning from one another are an
important way to enhance cultural creativity.
Activities in this
cultural event in France will showcase the charm of China's ancient
cultural achievements and its vigor of modern times, Hu said. The
activities will also help promote understanding and friendship
between the Chinese and French peoples.
Chirac said in his
message that the event will give new momentum to the partnership
between the two countries.
"China and France expect
to reinforce their relations, develop a global partnership and
create new dynamics as we are to celebrate the 40th anniversary of
our diplomatic relations next January,'' he said.
Chirac said that he is
confident that the French people will embrace the cultural year's
activities with enthusiasm. He said he also hoped the Chinese
people would learn more about France through the Year of French
Culture event that will be launched in China in the autumn next
year.
The Year of Chinese
Culture in France is taking place from this month until July 2004.
It includes more than 300 projects, covering fields such as ancient
civilization, folklore, art and literature, education, technology
and tourism.
There will be
exhibitions such as "China Seen Closely: The Art of Living in
Modern Times,'' "The Enigma of Bronze Age Man: Archaeology in
Sichuan'' and "Science and Technology of Contemporary
China.''
A large exhibition of
Chinese paintings of the 20th century will open to the public in
Paris Oct. 8.
In spring 2004, Paris is
to celebrate the Chinese traditional Spring Festival in a Chinese
way. A folklore show will march onto the Champs Elysees Avenue in
the centre of the French capital.
Initiated in 1999 by
Chirac and former Chinese President Jiang Zemin, the China-France
Culture Year marks the largest-ever cultural-exchange activity
jointly hosted by China and a foreign country.
(China Daily October 7,
2003)