The Asian Art Exhibition, cosponsored by the Sino-Austrian
Friendship Association and the Austrian auctioneer Dorotheum,
opened in Vienna on Monday.
The year of 2006, the 35th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic ties as well as that of the Sino-Austrian Friendship
Association, was designated "China Year" by Austrian President
Heinz Fischer.
President Hu Jintao and Austrian President have sent
congratulatory letters to the festival, wishing it a success.
The exhibition is part of a series of "China Year" activities,
among which, Dorotheum's collection of nearly 100 works of art from
China and Asia has drawn a great deal of interest among its
visitors.
China was expecting more Austrians to visit China and to enjoy
the Chinese traditional culture in person, said Chinese Ambassador
Lu Yonghua at the opening ceremony.
The ambassador hoped the Sino-Austrian Friendship Association
would continue their efforts to promote friendly relations between
the two countries.
The friendship organization is to celebrate "China Year" by a
series of symposiums, exhibitions, artistic performances and other
activities.
(Xinhua News Agency March 21, 2006)
