He said he hopes the Chinese Culture Year in Italy will present a new opportunity for Italians to learn about not only Chinese culture and history, but also the dynamics of modern China.

Under the baton of Yu Long, the China Philharmonic Orchestra, which Gramophone magazine regards as one of the top 10 symphony orchestras in the world, will perform a concert that combines classical Italian opera and traditional Chinese music.

The first program, East Meets West in Operas, will feature artists from the Peking Opera, who will perform traditional Chinese arias, while the Italian bel canto vocalists will sing arias by Rossini and Puccini.

The renowned violin concerto Butterfly Romance will be performed by the Chinese violinist Lu Siqing, who won first prize in the prestigious Paganini Competition in Italy in 1987.

The program also includes the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from Verdi's opera Nabucco, followed by the Chinese folk song Jasmine Flower.

In May 2008, the China Philharmonic Orchestra played the same piece under Yu's baton for Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican.

"The orchestra and I feel honored to return to Rome," Yu said in between rehearsals in Beijing. "Music is a unique, universal language that can help people from different nations, races and cultures to understand and respect each other.

"As musicians, we would like to do our part - playing music - to make China and its people, who love peace and pursue happiness, better understood in the world. The program interprets the harmony between China and Italy."

Following the opening concert, the Chinese Culture Year in Italy will feature hundreds of events in music, dance, drama and theater, as well as the folk and visual arts. Exhibitions will form a major part of the event, because Europeans are accustomed to attending museums, said Chen Ping, director of the bureau's Western Europe department, who is in charge of the event.

Fan, who will supervise the exhibitions in Italy, said there is a long history of communication in the visual arts between the two countries, adding the Italian artist Giuseppe Castiglione (1688-1766), a court painter for more than 50 years during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), was the first to bring Western oil painting to China.

In the 20th century, many Chinese artists traveled to Europe to learn oil painting, spending time in both Rome and Florence. Italian oil painting and sculpture have had a great impact on Chinese artists, while Chinese brush painting, calligraphy, architecture and gardening have, in turn, influenced their Italian counterparts.

According to Fan, Italian and Chinese art both have long histories, distinguished traditions and a flair for innovation.

The exhibitions in Italy will try to cover Chinese art throughout history, with each show having a specific theme and focus, she said.

There will also be lectures and seminars where Italians can learn more about Chinese art and culture.