The Year of France was inaugurated with the enchanting music of Jean Michel Jarre earlier this month, but it would surely be incomplete without a celebration of the country's rich and delicious cuisine. Food plays as central a role in French culture as it does in Chinese, so where better to celebrate it than Beijing?

The Third French Food Festival, organized by Sopexa Beijing, opened yesterday on downtown Beijing's Wangfujing Avenue and runs until tomorrow, providing Chinese people a great opportunity to get to know and enjoy French cuisine.

As France's state advisor on the promotion of agricultural products and food, Sopexa has been engaged in promoting "made in France" to the world. During the three-day celebration, 12 well-known suppliers will deliver over 100 varieties of French wine, cheese, cream, butter, coffee, chocolate and bread to Chinese mouths. 

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the French embassy's agriculture councilor said, "France is a country that boasts of a wide variety of cuisines. Our mellow wine and delicious bread represent exquisite French culture. By holding this festival, we want our diverse and high quality food to not be limited to high-end consumers but experienced by ordinary Chinese consumers."

On bustling Wangfujing Avenue, displays featuring French gastronomic specialties are attracting many people's attention. Alongside beautiful songs and music staged by French artists, people are really relishing the freshly toasted bread and smooth French wines on offer.

(China.org.cn by staff reporter Wang Qian October 30, 2004)