"Italia in China 2006", a part of the "Year of Italy in China", will be ushered into Shanghai by two ballet dances by an Italian modern dance troupe on Wednesday.

This was announced on Monday by Massimo Roscigno, consul general of the Italian Consulate General in Shanghai.

The "Year of Italy in China", a cultural gala co-organized by China and Italy, began in Beijing on Jan. 19 in a concert featuring the great composers of Italian Opera.

As a member of the European Union, Italy is second only to France in holding a culture-year event in China to promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation.

Wednesday's ballet dances will be performed by Compagnia Aterballetto, founded in 1978, said the consul general, who disclosed that a range of other activities would also be staged in this Chinese commercial metropolis after the ballet dances, including the screening of 60 Italian films at the 9th Shanghai International Film Festival.

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2006)