A three-day Asian Cultural Cooperation Conference has opened in Beijing.

Vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, Li Tieying, said at the opening ceremony on Sunday that culture identifies a nation and that national cultures should be respected to protect diversity.

Delegations form sixteen countries and regions across Asia attended the conference.

The conference will discuss cultural communication and the establishment of a cultural cooperative organization for the Asian region.

The Chinese Culture Promotion Society that organized last year's Culture Summit, is again responsible for this year's event.

(CRI.com May 30, 2005)