A two-day cultural conference held in Beijing sets up a bridge for Asian and European people to communicate, said a senior Chinese culture official Thursday.

At the closing ceremony of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Conference on Cultures and Civilizations, Chinese Culture Minister Sun Jiazheng said the conference will play an active role in cultural dialogues and exchanges between Asia and Europe.
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The conference, the largest culture ministerial meeting of its kind ever held in China, included four plenary sessions and three group discussions. About 200 representatives from 26 ASEM member states attended the conference.

Sun believed that all ASEM members will make efforts to facilitate exchanges between Asian and European countries.

The conference, with the theme of "unity in diversity", will promote friendship and mutual understanding between Asian and European people, said French Minister of Culture and Communication Jean-Jacques Aillagon.

(Xinhua News Agency December 5, 2003)