China's Ministry of Culture held a gala on Friday evening in which 13 international prize-winning acrobatic programs were awarded by former vice president Rong Yiren foundation.

The foundation has allocated about 100 million yuan to award Chinese acrobatic programs which win international prizes.

It has awarded 86 international prize-winning programs since 2004.

Vice President Zeng Qinghong and member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Li Changchun attended the gala.

The art of acrobat has a history of more than 3,000 years in China. Chinese acrobatic programs started to show on world stage in 1956 and have won various of international awards.
 
(Xinhua News Agency December 22, 2007)