The first China Beijing international fine arts biennial exhibition, the largest of the kind, began at China Millennium Monument in downtown area of Beijing on Saturday.

Jin Shangyi, president of China Artists Association and also mastermind of the exhibition, said 323 artists from 45 countries and regions are displaying 577 pieces of paintings and sculptures at the exhibition.

During the exhibition, a range of specialized shows will showcase works of famous Chinese painter Qi Baishi, paintings fromJapan, fine arts from the Republic of Korea, and works by French artists.

A symposium will also be held from Sunday through Tuesday and participants will discuss such topics as "artistic innovation and cultural tradition", "fine arts in contemporary cultural and linguistic environment" and "contemporary art and media culture".

The exhibition, jointly organized by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, China Artists Association and Beijing Municipal Government, will run for one month.

(Xinhua News Agency  September 23, 2003)