Liu Dawei, the executive vice president of the Chinese Artists Association was elected the new president of the International Association of Art (IAA) last Saturday, promising to help more member countries send delegates to the next assembly.

The delegates from 45 IAA member countries elected their new leaders at the on-going 16th general assembly held at east China's city of Hefei. The conference agenda also includes a summing-up ofthe previous session's work and the hosting of a forum.

"I'm very proud of being elected," said Liu, "The election will help promote the exchanges between the Chinese art circle and the international community and enhance the roles and the voice of Chinese artists in the organization."

The assembly also elected 11 executive commissioners who come from Kuwait, Mexico, Japan, Sweden, France, Mauritius, South Africa, Norway, Brazil and Germany.

The revised statute of the association includes changing the assembly's interval from three years to four years, decreasing the scheduled number of executive commissioners from 13 to 11.

The world's most prestigious painters, sculptors, fine arts critics, members of the presidium of the Chinese Artists Association and the artists from across China also attended the three-day assembly.

Headquartered in Paris, the IAA is a non-governmental organization consisting of only the most prestigious art organizations with the highest artistic level from over 120 member countries around the world. It was set up in 1954 by the UNESCO.

Representing China's fine art circle, the CAA joined the IAA in2002 during the 15th General Assembly of the organization held in Greece, at the same time winning the bid to host its 16th general assembly.

 Liu said the imparity of economic conditions among the member countries is the biggest problem confronting the association. Only dozens of member countries came to China attending the assembly despite more than 120 member countries totally.

"My aim in my term is to help the less developed member countries send delegates as more as possible to attend the next assembly," Liu promised.

The second Beijing International Art Biennale, the largest and most influential art exhibition in China, is underway in Beijing, and a seminar for the biennale is also ongoing in Hefei.  

(Xinhua News Agency September 27, 2005)