A series of African art performances and exhibitions will be
staged in Beijing during the third ministerial meeting of the
China-Africa Cooperation Forum in November, said a Ministry of
Culture (MOC) official on Wednesday.
"The MOC has invited six African art organizations to stage
performances or put on shows before and during the forum, while the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs will hold an exhibition of African
currencies and stamps," said MOC official Yu Peng at Wednesday's
press conference.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of
diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and
African countries.
The third ministerial meeting of the China-Africa Cooperation
Forum will be held from November 3-5 in Beijing. The summit will
focus on "friendship, peace, cooperation and development."
Yu said cultural exchanges and cooperation have become an
important part of Sino-African relations and have promoted mutual
friendship.
To date, China has signed 156 cultural cooperation contracts
with African countries, and more than 50 cultural groups
representing the Chinese government have visited Africa. Over 170
African state cultural troupes have visited China.
Both China and African governments have provided great support
for cultural exchanges, Yu said, adding that China has organized
training courses on acrobatics, dancing, cultural relics, museums,
eurythmics and martial arts in China and Africa.
The Chinese government's three Chinese cultural centers in
Africa have played a key role in promoting Sino-African cultural
exchanges.
(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2006)
