"Exciting Jamaica," a two-week festival of Caribbean music and dance, was launched Thursday morning at the World Park in southwest Beijing.

As a Caribbean country, Jamaica certainly has more than the Blue Mountain coffee to boast. In his opening address, Jamaican Ambassador to China Wayne McCook said, " We are proud that in music, song and dance we have created rhythms that rock the world and led by the mystical message of Bob Marley established reggae music and its offspring as one of the world's truly great music forms."

"Today we present this heritage to you through a talented team of young persons who have traveled far to bring you the Jamaican message of One Love in song, music and movement."

He referred to the C-Sharp band and Dance Xaymaca group, those original and dynamic performances at the opening ceremony injected vitality and flavor into this otherwise lousy, stultifying summer day.

They will also perform in August to commemorate the 44th anniversary of Jamaica's Independence.

(People's Daily July 21, 2006)