China's Central Nationalities Orchestra will give a concert of Chinese folk music at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York on August 24, which will mark the start of a 25-day Chinese cultural promotion festival in the United States.
The activity, which is jointly sponsored by the Information Office of the State Council and the Ministry of Culture, will be the biggest of its kind in recent years.
From August 24 to September 17, China will hold exhibitions, artistic performances and speeches in New York, Washington, Chicago and other American cities to introduce China's traditional culture, modern art, and the history of and current situation in China.
"This year is an important year for the development of Sino-American relations," said Zhao Qizheng, director of the Information Office of the State Council, adding that the festival will help American people to get to know more about China and the Chinese people.
President Jiang Zemin, US President Bill Clinton and Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi A. Annan have all sent letters of congratulations on the festival.
During the festival, China will hold an exhibition titled "Approaching China" in New York, which will show China's tourist spots, art works and costumes. A photo exhibition will also be held in Washington.
Chinese performers and models will give concerts, dance performances and a fashion show in major American cities, including New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Zhao Qizheng will deliver a speech titled "The US and the American People in Chinese People's Eyes" in three American cities, and Chinese Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng and Director of the National Tourism Administration He Guangwei will give speeches on Chinese culture and the tourism industry in the 21st Century.
(People's Daily)
