Vasily Petrenko, a renowned Russian conductor, is delighted that his first ever performance in China will take place in Shanghai in October, as part of a musical gala day to mark the end of the World Expo.

"It is a realization of a long-held ambition," he said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Tuesday in a rehearsal break in Liverpool.

Petrenko will lead Britain's distinguished Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra to China on a six-day tour.

"We Russians have been friendly allies with China for many decades," said Petrenko. There is a nice twist of fate for Petrenko as his hometown St Petersburg, Russia, has been twinned with Shanghai since 1988.

China's leadership now stresses the importance of cultural exchange, Petreko said. "It is marvellous that they are encouraging this."

"Educating people in classical music needs a long term strategy. Fortunately, there is a different mentality in China which sees people take a longer view than in European or American societies."

"The Chinese understand that this process could take 10 or 15 years and they are prepared to invest the time," he added.