"The year of Greek Culture in China" featuring an ambitious array of events was launched in Beijing to showcase both ancient Hellenic culture and modern Greece.

Opening the event on Wednesday, Greek Culture Minister Michalis Liapis said the aim of the event was to attract global interest "by constantly presenting a flavour of Greek culture in the country which is organizing the 2008 Olympic Games".

The Minister noted that they aimed to "present the modern character and the development over history of Greek civilization to the Chinese people". He added that the Year of Greek Culture would further enhance ties between the two countries.

The event will officially begin on October 19 with a concert featuring Greek composer Stamatis Spanoudakis' new work Alexander: Paths You Haven't Travelled at the Beijing Poly Theater.

An exhibition, named "Classical Memories in Contemporary Greek Art", runs from October 16 to November 16 in the Beijing-based Capital Museum.

Others events include theatrical and dance performances, cinema tributes, archaeological and modern art exhibitions, opera, folk concerts, modern and popular music, conferences and book exhibitions.

The theatrical performances include classical dramas with a history of over 2000 years, like Aristophanes' comedy The Birds and Sophocles' tragedy Aias.

Dance performance Medea, whose director is also the artistic director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, will be performed in May and June 2008.

As part of one-year long program, the Hellenic Cultural Center has been set up adjacent to Beijing's Forbidden City, and activities including exhibitions, seminars and lectures will be held there.
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(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2007)