China's Vice Minister of Culture Zhao Shaohua and Australian Ambassador to China Geoff Raby Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on reciprocal years of culture (2010-2012) between China and Australia.

The Year of Australian Culture in China, the opening ceremony of which is scheduled for June 8 in the National Center for the Performing Arts, lasts from June 2010 to June 2011.

It will be a showcase of cooperation between China and Australia in the fields of art, music, performance, literature, film and other media.

It will include an Australian aboriginal art exhibition held in the National Art Museum of China and art performances jointly produced by Chinese and Australian artists.

As the first step, the National Museum of Australia and the National Art Museum of China Monday signed a memorandum of understanding to put arrangements in place for reciprocal touring exhibitions in China and Australia from 2010 to 2012 and facilitate future cultural exchanges.

According to a joint statement released during the visit of China's Vice Premier Li Keqiang to Australia last year, the Year of Australian Culture in China is scheduled from 2010 to 2011, and the Year of Chinese Culture in Australia from 2011 to 2012.

China's Ministry of Culture is actively preparing for the Year of Chinese Culture in Australia.