Over 200 cities in China have twin-city relationships with counterparts in 108 countries, bringing the number of twin cities to more than 1,100 pairs—just one example of the many cultural exchanges China has with other countries throughout the world. In 2002, China held a "Chinese Culture Week" in Egypt, Mexico, Panama and Belgium. This followed a "China Day" at the Third Asia-Pacific Week in Berlin in 2001; "A Tour of Chinese Culture in the United States" in 2000; and the "1999 Chinese Culture Week" in Paris. In recent years, international cultural exchanges also have helped provide Chinese artists access to the world's stage. In 2002, Zhang Xian, a 28-year-old woman, was a co-winner of the first Maazel-Vilar Conductors' Competition held at Carnegie Hall, with the two winners sharing a $90,000 first prize. The China National Symphony Orchestra toured Europe from October 17 to November 5, 2002, giving concerts in Germany, Spain and Portugal. The first concert held in Berlin helped celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-German diplomatic ties. In the meantime, first-rate artists from all over the world came to China to perform, including to places like the annual Shanghai International Art Festival and Beijing International Music Festival. So far, the Chinese government has reached cultural agreements with 143 countries and signed 682 plans for annual cultural exchanges. Every year the Ministry of Culture authorizes 2,000 cultural exchange projects with more than 60 to 70 countries involving some 30,000 participants.
